New Pay Rates and Overtime

Welcome to the new financial year, everyone. Now, because of an issue with our payroll software and my inability to process pay last night, all of last week's employee pay includes the minimum wage pay increase and the new superannuation contribution amounts. Please let me know if there are any issues with the latest rates. I tried to update all the rules, but I may have missed one in a rush to set it up today.

So, with this pay increase, the business will experience some cash flow pressure over the coming 10 to 12 weeks. The way things work between myself and Australia Post is that I have to pass the pay increase on and take that money out of the business cash until September when Australia Post comes up with a new parcel rate for me to cover the costs. I don't have any idea what that increase will be for me until then. At that stage, I will be back paid for the parcels I have done between now and then, but till then, it comes out of our cash reserves, which right now aren't that big.

So, for the next few months, can I ask that we be a bit careful with overtime, mainly as this can be one of our biggest cash drains for the company? Shifts need to be 7.6 hours at a maximum till September to avoid too much cash leaving the company till I get paid back. Usually, it isn't that big an issue, but the size of the increase this time will make a big difference. If we get behind and one of the team leaders is okay with the move, we can push past the 7.6 under some circumstances, but anything over the 8.5-hour mark will become a problem.

As for contractors, I have already passed on what I thought would be enough to cover this increase a few months back to encourage a few people to come over. If I get to September and there is room for a slightly larger bump, I will pass the rest on then. Still, with the price of fuel being a little bit lower than it has, there is every chance Australia Post will take that into account and not pass on the total amount I need to cover the increase already passed on. In this case, I will wear that, and we will look for more chances to help you further when I can.

Please let me know when you see me next if you have any questions.