An award is a legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a specific industry or job. It contains things like rates of pay, overtime, penalty rates and allowances.
It is a legally enforceable set of minimum terms and conditions of employment. Awards operate in conjunction with the National Employment Standards (a legislated set of minimum standards), and together they provide a fair and relevant minimum safety net for workers.
An award applies to employees in a particular industry or occupation. The Fair Work Commission has responsibility for making and varying Awards in the national workplace relations system. Unions, such as the SDA, can apply to change or improve Awards that apply for their members.
What this means for you
If you work in the hair and beauty industry, the relevant Award is Hair & Beauty Industry Award. The Hair & Beauty Industry Award outlines the minimum standards for the respective industry.
That means workers in hair and beauty should not receive less overall than the pay and entitlements set out in this Award.
For example, if you work as hairdresser or a make-up artist, you may be covered by the Hair & Beauty Industry Award or an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiated by the SDA.
Check with the SDA if you’re unsure what applies to you.
The Hair & Beauty Industry Award covers most of the hair and beaty workers such as hairdressers and cosmetologists.
The hair and beauty industry includes:
- haircutting
- hair styling
- shampooing
- hair dyeing or any treatment of hair
- shaving and beard trimming
- wig-making
- make-up application
- manicuring or nail work
- lash and brow tinting
- facial treatments including massages and other specialised treatments such as lymphatic drainage
- high frequency body treatments including full body massage and other body treatments (if it is not a health business)
- performing or carrying out body hair removal, including waxing chemical methods, electrolysis and laser hair removal
- aromatherapy and the application of aromatic oils for beauty treatments.
Examples of employers and employees covered by the Hair and Beauty Award include:
- hair and beauty salons
- hairdressers
- hairdressing apprentices
- barbers
- beauticians and beauty therapists
- make-up artists
- nail technicians
- employees applying spray tan for a spray tan studio
- cosmetologists.
SDA members have access to exclusive pay and conditions resources.
This is just a snapshot of a handful of entitlements in the General Retail Industry Award – there’s many more.
As part of your SDA union membership, you can access detailed information about your award or agreement. This includes a full copy of your award or agreement.
