Real Estate Industry Award 2020

Broad-band classification structure

The introduction of a new broad-band classification structure is a significant change that will make classifying employees much easier for Real Estate Employers.

Gone are the old job titles such as Property Sales Associate, Property Sales Representative, Property Sales Supervisor and the corresponding titles for Property Management and Strata Management.

There will now be a four-tiered classification based on skills, duties and responsibilities:

Real Estate Employee Level 1 (Associate Level)
Real Estate Employee Level 2 (Representative Level)
Real Estate Employee Level 3 (Supervisory Level)
Real Estate Employee Level 4 (In-Charge Level)

Every operational employee must be placed into one of these levels.

The new Real Estate Industry Award contains a new set of classification descriptors. Employers will need to refer to these descriptors when determining the appropriate level at which to classify employees.

Here are some examples of the new broad-band classification structure in action:

Level 1: If an employee is engaged to assist either a Salesperson, Property Manager or Strata Manager, they’ll be classified at the Associate Level. An example of an employee at this level is someone who is employed as a Property Sales Associate.
Level 2: If an employee is engaged to perform the duties of a Real Estate Salesperson, Property Manager or Strata Manager, they’ll be classified at the Representative Level.
Level 3: If an employee is engaged to supervise Level 2 employees, they’ll be classified at the Supervisory Level. An example of an employee at this level is someone who is employed as a Sales Manager.
Level 4: If the employee is engaged to be responsible for ensuring the business complies with its obligations under Real Estate Law, they’ll be classified at the In-Charge Level. An example of an employee at this level is someone who is employed as a Licensee-in-Charge.

The type of broad-band classification structure set out in the new Real Estate Industry Award is common across other industries also.

This new broad-band classification structure will make classifying employees much easier, as it will no longer matter if an employee performs a mix of duties across sales, property management and strata management. Employees will simply be classified at a particular level, rather than by their job title.

Classifying by job title can be awkward when mixed job functions are involved, particularly because different rates of pay can apply to different titles. This problem is solved with the introduction of the new broad-band classification structure.

Minimum rates of pay

The first full pay period commencing on or after 2 April 2018 will see changes to the minimum rates of pay for most employees.

What are the new minimum rates of pay for an agent under the new award?

Employers must determine the new classification level for each operational employee (excluding clerical and administrative employees) and determine whether their current rate of pay is at least equal to the rates set out in the following table:-

Broad-band classification – New weekly minimum wage from 2 April 2018
Real Estate Employee Level 1 (Associate Level) – first 12 months $849.60
Real Estate Employee Level 1 (Associate Level) – after 12 months $894.50
Real Estate Employee Level 2 (Representative Level) $940.90
Real Estate Employee Level 3 (Supervisory Level) $1035.00
Real Estate Employee Level 4 (In-Charge Level) $1082.20

If an employee’s current rate of pay is not at least equal to the rates set out in the table above, employers must adjust the employee’s rate of pay to the new minimum rate relevant to their classification from 2 April 2018.

If an employee’s current rate of pay is equal to or above the new minimum rate relevant to their classification, no adjustment is necessary.

How do you determine the new minimum rate of pay for an existing employee?

Determining the correct level for an employee under the new broad-band classification structure is a relatively simple task.

Level 1: Any employee currently classified as either a Property Sales Associate, Property Management Associate or Strata Management Associate will become a Level 1 employee under the new Real Estate Industry Award. Two wage rates apply at this level. The first rate applies to employees during their first 12 months of employment and the second rate applies thereafter.
Level 2: Any employee currently classified as either a Property Sales Representative (i.e. a Salesperson), Property Management Representative (i.e. a Property Manager) or Strata Management Representative (i.e. a Strata Manager) will become a Level 2 employee under the new Real Estate Industry Award and the relevant minimum rate of pay will apply.
Level 3: Any employee currently classified as either a Property Sales Supervisor, Property Management Supervisor or Strata Management Supervisor will become a Level 3 employee under the new Real Estate Industry Award and the relevant minimum rate of pay will apply.
Level 4: Any employee who is engaged to be responsible for ensuring the business complies with its obligations under Real Estate Law will now be classified as a Level 4 employee under the new Real Estate Industry Award and the relevant minimum rate of pay will apply.

Commission-only employment

The rules relating to commission-only arrangements have undergone a great deal of change as a result of the award review process. Employers who engage Salespeople on a commission-only basis, or intend to do so in the future, need to understand the new rules as errors could have disastrous financial consequences.

New qualification test

For an employee to be engaged on a commission-only basis from 2 April 2018, new qualification criteria must be satisfied.

The new Minimum Income Threshold Amount (MITA) replaces the complex and clumsy test that has operated for the last 11 years.

The MITA is simple and applies only to employees who are employed after 2 April 2018. Employees who currently qualify under the Real Estate Industry Award 2010 can continue to be employed on a commission-only basis after 2 April 2018.

The MITA is satisfied if the employee can show that in a consecutive 12-month period in the three years immediately prior to entering into the commission-only agreement they received a salary (including commission or bonus payments, but excluding allowances and superannuation) at least equal to 125 per cent of the employee’s classification rate under the new Real Estate Industry Award, calculated as an annual amount.

EXAMPLE: If an employee’s classification is Level 2, the MITA is calculated as 125 per cent of $940.90 per week (i.e. $61,158 per annum).

The MITA will increase as the minimum rates of pay change. The new REEF Rates of Pay booklet will include the MITA.

Annual assessment test

The new Real Estate Industry Award introduces an obligation for an employer to assess a commission-only employee’s remuneration (i.e. commission received) at the end of each 12-month period.

If the assessment reveals that the employee received commission less than the MITA over the previous 12 months, the employee can no longer continue to be employed on a commission-only basis. To continue employment with the agency following a failed assessment, the employee must revert to a salaried position, either with or without an associated commission arrangement. Termination may also be an option, provided appropriate performance management processes have been observed.

The annual assessment is an integral part of the revised commission-only employment system from 2 April 2018. For employees employed prior to 2 April 2018, the first annual assessment will need to occur by 1 April 2019. For employees employed after 2 April 2018, the first annual assessment will take place 12 months after the commencement of employment.

Revised minimum commission-only rate

The Fair Work Commission decided that it was appropriate to change the way the minimum commission-only rate of pay is prescribed in the Award.

It is now 31.5 per cent of the employer’s gross commission (rather than 35% of employer’s net commission).

This is a structural change only and should not affect the monetary entitlement of a commission-only employee.

‘All-up’ rate no longer applies

Despite REEF’s efforts, the Fair Work Commission has now confirmed that commission-only arrangements that provide for pre-payment of annual and personal/carer’s leave are unlawful and inconsistent with the Fair Work Act.

Employers who have commission-only employees who are paid an ‘all-up’ commission rate must immediately transition them to an arrangement that is lawful under the Fair Work Act.

REEF has developed a commission-only arrangement – the ‘commission margin’ model – that overcomes the problem. Please contact REEF if assistance is required in applying this model.

Mobile phone allowance

The new Real Estate Industry Award prescribes a formula for reimbursing an employee for the use of their own mobile phone in the course of their employment: 50 per cent of the employee’s mobile phone plan up to a maximum plan of $100 per month.

This means the maximum employers will be required to pay an employee is $50 per month. If an employee’s plan is $80 per month, the payment will be $40 (i.e. 50 per cent of the $80 plan).

Motor cycle allowance

The new Real Estate Industry Award introduces a new allowance to reimburse an employee who uses a motor cycle in the course of their employment (e.g. to complete letter box drops).

Without this change, employers would have been required to pay the employee the full car allowance rate.

Post-employment commission entitlement

Currently, following the termination of employee’s employment, an entitlement remains for the employee to be credited with commission or bonus payments from a property transaction in accordance with their employment agreement, provided a legally enforceable contract is in place either before the cessation of employment or during the notice period. This is commonly referred to as the ‘line in the sand’ for a commission or bonus entitlement.

This line moves slightly under the new Real Estate Industry Award. The entitlement to be credited with commission or bonus payments after the termination of employment will now remain alive for the duration of the fixed term of the exclusive agency agreement.

*The information provided has come from The Real Estate Employers’ Federation, the leading workplace advisory service for the Real Estate Industry.

click here to get a direct link to the current https://library.fairwork.gov.au/award/?krn=ma000106#viewer-page-heading