Since the implementation of Modern Awards in 2010, they have received many updates and changes. As a result, Awards are complex and can be difficult for business owners to interpret and apply correctly.
As a result, things like setting hours for part time workers, rostering, overtime, and penalty rates can often result in technical non-compliance.
At Wightons, we recognise that many small and medium business owners seek to comply with all applicable employment laws but ordinarily do not have the legal spend to engage lawyers to prepare a once-off, unique employment contract with every new hire.
That’s why Wightons has developed a suite of employment contract templates which can be customised and used by business owners to hire employees covered by Modern Awards with a minimum of fuss and without ongoing legal costs. It is a pay once, use as many times as required style template document.
Amongst other customisation options, Wightons employment contract templates allow business owners to choose (within a single document):
- Modern Award Classification;
- full time, part time or casual;
- duties and responsibilities;
- commencement date;
- an ongoing or fixed term employment duration;
- the days and hours of work, including by rosters;
- pay period and roster periods;
- the hourly rate of pay; and
- locations of work.
By using a Wightons employment contract template, business owners avoid the need to engage lawyers prior to each new hire. It is a cost-effective way to not only comply with applicable employment laws, but to also protect your business interests through provisions dealing with confidentiality, intellectual property and conflicts of interest.
Wightons offers customisable employment contract templates for many common Modern Awards, including the Hospitality Award, Retail Award, Clerks Award, Cleaning Award, Food and Beverage Award, Real Estate Award and the Vehicle Repair Award (shortened Award names have been used for ease of comprehension).
Contact Wightons on (03) 5221 8777 or should you be interested in hearing more about how we can assist your business with multi-use template employment contracts.
📰 Published in Times Group – Swell Magazine 2026
Article prepared and written by:
Anthony Farnan (Principal) – available by appointment at our Geelong office
