Retail Award
General Retail Industry Award 2020
Ask FairWork Mate AI about the Retail Award
Plain-English answers grounded on the full MA000004 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $499/mo (50% off first month).
Who does this award cover?
The Retail Award covers employees working in retail, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1 | $26.55 | $33.19 | $1008.90 |
| Retail Employee Level 2 | $27.60 | $34.50 | $1048.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 3 | $28.55 | $35.69 | $1084.90 |
| Retail Employee Level 4 | $29.61 | $37.01 | $1125.18 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.69 | $38.36 | $1166.22 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $32.06 | $40.08 | $1218.28 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $33.42 | $41.78 | $1269.96 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $35.64 | $44.55 | $1354.32 |
Rates shown are hourly permanent (base) and casual (base + 25% loading). Always verify with the official FWC document — rates change annually on 1 July following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Retail Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.
Method for the Retail Award
Additive — penalty % + 25% loading applied to the base rate
Source: Clause 11 / Schedule A · Verified against the award text
Schedule A states overtime rates for casual employees are calculated by adding the 25% casual loading to the full/part-time overtime rates in clause 21.2(c).
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive (used by this award) | $29.61 × 175% | $51.82 |
| Compounded | $37.01 × 150% | $55.52 |
| Separate | $29.61 × 150% | $44.42 |
Worked example: casual Level 4 (base $29.61/hr), first block of overtime at 150%. Different awards produce different hourly rates from the same base because the 25% loading is applied differently.
Calculate casual overtime for any scenario →Break entitlements
| Shift length | Meal break | Rest break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 hours | — | — | No |
| 4–5 hours | — | 10 min | Yes |
| 5–7 hours | 30 min | 10 min | No |
| 7–10 hours | 60 min | 10 min | No |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | No |
Want the full MA000004 document?
This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate AI answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause. The Business API returns structured data for payroll and HR systems.
Question about the Retail Award?
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