MA000067  PR718531 [Note: a correction and further correction has been issued to this document]
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DETERMINATION


Fair Work Act 2009

s.156—4 yearly review of modern awards

4 yearly review of modern awards
(AM2019/17)

JOURNALISTS PUBLISHED MEDIA AWARD 2010
[MA000067]

Journalism

JUSTICE ROSS, PRESIDENT
DEPUTY PRESIDENT CLANCY
COMMISSIONER BISSETT

MELBOURNE, 30 APRIL 2020

4 yearly review of modern awards – Journalists Published Media Award 2010 – modern award varied.

A. Further to the decision [[2020] FWCFB 2124] issued by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission on 27 April 2020, the Journalists Published Media Award 2010 is varied as follows:

1. By deleting all clauses, schedules and appendices.

2. By inserting the clauses and schedules attached.

B. This determination comes into operation from 18 June 2020. In accordance with s.165(3) of the Fair Work Act 2009, this determination does not take effect until the start of the first full pay period that starts on or after 18 June 2020.

PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

Journalists Published Media Award 2020

Table of Contents

Part 1— Application and Operation of this Award 3
1. Title and commencement 3
2. Definitions 3
3. The National Employment Standards and this award 5
4. Coverage 5
5. Individual flexibility arrangements 9
6. Requests for flexible working arrangements 10
7. Facilitative provisions 11
Part 2— Types of Employment and Classifications 12
8. Full-time employees 12
9. Part-time employees 12
10. Casual employees 13
11. Classifications 14
Part 3— Hours of Work 16
12. Ordinary hours of work 16
13. Breaks 18
Part 4— Wages and Allowances 18
14. Minimum rates 18
15. Payment of wages 19
16. Allowances 20
17. Superannuation 23
Part 5— Overtime and Penalty Rates 25
18. Overtime 25
19. Shiftwork and weekend penalty rates 28
Part 6— Leave and Public Holidays 29
20. Annual leave 29
21. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave 34
22. Parental leave and related entitlements 34
23. Community service leave 34
24. Unpaid family and domestic violence leave 34
25. Public holidays 34
Part 7— Consultation and Dispute Resolution 35
26. Consultation about major workplace change 35
27. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work 36
28. Dispute resolution 37
Part 8— Termination of Employment and Redundancy 37
29. Termination of employment 37
30. Redundancy 38
Schedule A —Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay 40
Schedule B —Summary of Monetary Allowances 54
Schedule C —Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance 55
Schedule D —Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave 56
Schedule E —Part-day Public Holidays 57
Schedule X —Additional Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic 58

Part 1—Application and Operation of this Award

1. Title and commencement

1.1 This award is the Journalists Published Media Award 2020.

1.2 This modern award commenced operation on 1 January 2010. The terms of the award have been varied since that date.

1.3 A variation to this award does not affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability that a person acquired, accrued or incurred under the award as it existed prior to that variation.

2. Definitions

In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

(a) original drawings of any kind; or

(b) creative art of any kind; or

(c) photographs, drawings, layouts, maps, plans, diagrams, decorations, lettering (including instant or transfer lettering), borders, backgrounds or similar embellishments.

(a) prepare an electronic layout of the page or pages other than the assignment of advertisements; and/or

(b) perform complex make-up, which causes headings, text, picture captions, editorial line work and editorial display devices such as rules, borders, stipples, colour tints, panels, graphs, reverses and half tones of news items or feature articles, to be typeset in a single operation in the relative positions described for or assigned to them in an editorial layout and whether typeset as one or more areas, or a full page or pages.

3. The National Employment Standards and this award

3.1 The National Employment Standards and this award contain the minimum conditions of employment for employees covered by this award.

3.2 Where this award refers to a condition of employment provided for in the NES, the NES definition applies.

3.3 The employer must ensure that copies of the award and the NES are available to all employees to whom they apply, either on a notice board which is conveniently located at or near the workplace or through accessible electronic means.

4. Coverage

4.1 This industry award covers employers throughout Australia in the published media industry with respect to their employees engaged in journalism in its literary, artistic and photographic branches and/or the gathering, writing or preparing of news matter or news commentaries, and their employees in the classifications listed in clause 11Classifications to the exclusion of any other modern award.

4.2 Published media industry means the industry concerned with the publication of newspapers, magazines, periodicals, journals and online publications, and the provision of wire services.

4.3 Where this award refers to an employee working on an employer’s print publication (such as a metropolitan daily newspaper or a regional daily newspaper), it includes a reference to an employee employed by that employer on the print publication’s associated online publication.

4.4 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this award does not cover employers covered by the following awards with respect to employees covered by the awards:

(a) Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2020;

(b) Broadcasting and Recorded Entertainment Award 2020; or

(c) Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020.

4.5 The award does not cover employees employed in the following positions:

(a) editor, editor in chief and chief of staff of a metropolitan daily newspaper; and

(b) Nationally:

(c) in Victoria and New South Wales:

(d) in Queensland and South Australia:

(e) in Tasmania:

(f) in Western Australia:

(g) in the Northern Territory:

(h) in the Australian Capital Territory:

(i) in a magazine publishing business that employs more than 20 editorial employees:

(j) in a regional daily newspaper business, the editor and:

(k) in an online publishing business (that is not an associated publication of a print publication) that employs more than 20 editorial employees:

(l) at Australian Associated Press: 11 positions.

4.6 This award does not cover:

(a) an employee excluded from award coverage by the Act;

(b) employees who are covered by a modern enterprise award, or an enterprise instrument (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees;

(c) an employer bound by an enterprise award with respect to any employee whose position is exempted from the coverage of the enterprise award;

(d) employees who are covered by a State reference public sector modern award, or a State reference public sector transitional award (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees.

4.7 This award covers any employer which supplies labour on an on-hire basis in the published media industry in respect of on-hire employees in classifications covered by this award, and those on-hire employees, while engaged in the performance of work for a business in that industry. Clause 4.7 operates subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.

4.8 Where an employer is covered by more than one award, an employee of that employer is covered by the award classification which is most appropriate to the work performed by the employee and to the environment in which the employee normally performs the work.

4.9 Exemptions from award provisions

(a) Part 3—Hours of Work and Part 5—Overtime and Penalty Rates of this award will not have any application to the following employees:

(b) The overtime provisions applying to part-time and casual employees at clauses 9.6, 9.7, and 10.4 will not apply to employees referred to in clause 4.9(a).

(c) Provided that, all the employees referred to in clause 4.9(a) will be given at least 2 days off in each week in accordance with clause 12.9. The provisions of clause 18.6 will apply to an employee not given 2 days off.

(d) The following clauses of this award will not have any application to employees employed by a specialist publication:

5. Individual flexibility arrangements

5.1 Despite anything else in this award, an employer and an individual employee may agree to vary the application of the terms of this award relating to any of the following in order to meet the genuine needs of both the employee and the employer:

(a) arrangements for when work is performed; or

(b) overtime rates; or

(c) penalty rates; or

(d) allowances; or

(e) annual leave loading.

5.2 An agreement must be one that is genuinely made by the employer and the individual employee without coercion or duress.

5.3 An agreement may only be made after the individual employee has commenced employment with the employer.

5.4 An employer who wishes to initiate the making of an agreement must:

(a) give the employee a written proposal; and

(b) if the employer is aware that the employee has, or reasonably should be aware that the employee may have, limited understanding of written English, take reasonable steps (including providing a translation in an appropriate language) to ensure that the employee understands the proposal.

5.5 An agreement must result in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made.

5.6 An agreement must do all of the following:

(a) state the names of the employer and the employee; and

(b) identify the award term, or award terms, the application of which is to be varied; and

(c) set out how the application of the award term, or each award term, is varied; and

(d) set out how the agreement results in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made; and

(e) state the date the agreement is to start.

5.7 An agreement must be:

(a) in writing; and

(b) signed by the employer and the employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

5.8 Except as provided in clause 5.7(b), an agreement must not require the approval or consent of a person other than the employer and the employee.

5.9 The employer must keep the agreement as a time and wages record and give a copy to the employee.

5.10 The employer and the employee must genuinely agree, without duress or coercion to any variation of an award provided for by an agreement.

5.11 An agreement may be terminated:

(a) at any time, by written agreement between the employer and the employee; or

(b) by the employer or employee giving 13 weeks’ written notice to the other party (reduced to 4 weeks if the agreement was entered into before the first full pay period starting on or after 4 December 2013).

5.12 An agreement terminated as mentioned in clause 5.11(b) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of notice required under that clause.

5.13 The right to make an agreement under clause 5 is additional to, and does not affect, any other term of this award that provides for an agreement between an employer and an individual employee.

6. Requests for flexible working arrangements

6.1 Employee may request change in working arrangements

6.2 Responding to the request

(a) the needs of the employee arising from their circumstances;

(b) the consequences for the employee if changes in working arrangements are not made; and

(c) any reasonable business grounds for refusing the request.

6.3 What the written response must include if the employer refuses the request

(a) Clause 6.3 applies if the employer refuses the request and has not reached an agreement with the employee under clause 6.2.

(b) The written response under section 65(4) must include details of the reasons for the refusal, including the business ground or grounds for the refusal and how the ground or grounds apply.

(c) If the employer and employee could not agree on a change in working arrangements under clause 6.2, then the written response under section 65(4) must:

6.4 What the written response must include if a different change in working arrangements is agreed

6.5 Dispute resolution

7. Facilitative provisions

7.1 A facilitative provision provides that the standard approach in an award provision may be departed from by agreement between an employer and an individual employee, or an employer and the majority of employees in the enterprise or part of the enterprise concerned.

7.2 Facilitative provisions in this award are contained in the following clauses:

Clause

Provision

Agreement between an employer and:

12.2

Ordinary hours of work

A majority of employees

12.3

Ordinary hours of work

An individual

12.6

Ordinary hours of work

An individual

21.7

Annual leave in advance

An individual

21.9

Cashing out of annual leave

An individual

26.3(c)

Employees receiving additional annual leave

An individual

26.4

Substitution of certain public holidays by agreement at the enterprise

An individual

Part 2—Types of Employment and Classifications

8. Full-time employees

A full-time employee is an employee who is engaged to work an average of 38 ordinary hours per week.

9. Part-time employees

9.1 A part-time employee is an employee who is employed on a continuing basis and engaged to work an average of less than 38 ordinary hours per week.

9.2 An employer is required to roster a part-time employee for a minimum of 4 consecutive hours on any day or shift.

9.3 A part-time employee will receive on a pro rata basis, equivalent pay and conditions to those of full-time employees who do the same kind of work.

9.4 The weekly hours of employment, including starting and finishing times, will be as agreed between the employee and the employer.

9.5 The employer may change the hours of work by providing 7 days’ notice in writing, provided that there is no change to the total agreed number of ordinary hours of work. Clause 9.5 is subject to clause 28Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work.

9.6 An employer may ask a part-time employee to work at times other than those agreed in case of an emergency or a shortage of staff because of sickness or other causes which cannot reasonably be foreseen. In this case the employer must give the employee as much notice as possible and will, within the same or the following week, give the employee time off duty to compensate for the additional time worked.

9.7 Overtime

(a) For a part-time employee, all time worked in excess of the agreed hours (except as provided for in clause 9.6 or as varied in accordance with clause 9.5) will be overtime and must be paid for at overtime rates.

(b) Where a part-time employee works overtime, the employer must pay the employee overtime rates as follows:

(c) The overtime provisions in clauses 9.7(a) and 9.7(b) will not apply to the employees listed at clause 4.9(a).

10. Casual employees

10.1 A casual employee is an employee who is engaged by the hour and paid as a casual employee.

10.2 A casual employee must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours and 45 minutes on each occasion.

10.3 For each hour worked, a casual employee must be paid:

(a) the ordinary hourly rate for the appropriate classification; and

(b) a loading of 25% of the ordinary hourly rate.

10.4 Overtime

(a) Casual employees are entitled to overtime for hours worked in excess of:

(b) Where a casual employee works overtime, the employer must pay the employee overtime rates as follows:

10.5 The ordinary hourly rate for the calculation of shift penalty rates and overtime rates for casual employees does not include the casual loading.

11. Classifications

11.1 Cadet journalists

(a) as a graduate cadet; or

(b) as a standard cadet.

11.2 Graduate cadet

(a) An employee with either an appropriate diploma or degree (as determined by the employer) from a tertiary institution will be employed as a graduate cadet.

(b) The period of cadetship for graduate cadets will not exceed one year, provided training requirements are met.

(c) During a period of cadetship, a graduate cadet will be paid at the rate for a final year cadet.

11.3 Standard cadet

(a) A standard cadet is a cadet employed as other than a graduate cadet.

(b) The period of cadetship for standard cadets must not exceed 3 years, provided training requirements are met.

(c) In calculating the period of cadetship, experience as a cadet will be regarded as continuous despite a cadet having been employed by several employers.

11.4 Training of cadets

(a) A cadet journalist will be fully and thoroughly taught and instructed by the employer in practical journalism as it operates in the office in which the cadet is employed.

(b) An experienced person will supervise the training of the cadet.

(c) The training will include the handling of news from its collection to its publication.

(d) Cadets in press photography or editorial art will be provided with the appropriate training.

(e) A cadet journalist will be permitted to be absent during working hours for periods of up to:

(f) Cadets in press photography and editorial art will be permitted to be absent for up to 10 hours a week to attend classes approved by the employer.

11.5 Editorial employees

11.6 The classification definitions in clause 11.5 are indicators of skill only and for the purpose of fixing the minimum award rate of pay to which employees are entitled and are not to be applied to restrict the range of work that may be required of an employee.

11.7 Editorial employees employed:

(a) by a country non-daily newspaper cannot be classified above Level 9; and

(b) by a regional daily newspaper, suburban newspaper or specialist publication cannot be classified above Level 10.

Part 3—Hours of Work

12. Ordinary hours of work

Subject to clause 4.9(c), clause 12 will not have any application to the employees listed at clause 4.9(a).

12.1 Ordinary hours of work will be an average of 38 hours a week to be worked on one of the following bases (provided that the requirements of clauses 12.6 and 12.9 are met):

(a) by employees working 38 ordinary hours over 5 days in a 7 day work cycle;

(b) by employees working 152 ordinary hours over 19 days in a 20 day work cycle;

(c) by employees working 76 ordinary hours over 9 days in a 10 day work cycle; or

(d) by employees working 38 hours on 4 days in each 5 day work cycle.

12.2 The arrangement for working the average of 38 hours per week at each workplace (or section of the workplace) will be agreed between the employer and the majority of employees affected.

12.3 An employer and an individual employee may agree on an arrangement for working the average of 38 hours per week which differs from the arrangement that applies to the majority of employees (provided that the requirements of clauses 12.1, 12.6 and 12.9 are met).

12.4 Penalty rates may not apply

(a) Where agreement has been reached under clause 12.2 or 12.3:

(b) the new work arrangements in clause 12.4(a) would lead to increased costs as a result of some or all employees concerned becoming entitled to shift penalty rates that they would not have been entitled to if working on 5 day per week basis,

(c) The agreement may provide that one or more of the penalties in clause 19Shiftwork and weekend penalty rates will not apply. In such a case, those penalty rates will not apply.

12.5 In clause 12, day means a period of 24 hours unless stated otherwise.

12.6 Ordinary hours will be a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 11 hours' work per day (or 12 hours with the agreement of the employee).

12.7 Make-up time

12.8 Calculation of time worked

(a) Except on a distant engagement, an employee’s hours of duty will count continuously from the time of entering upon duty, as defined in clause 12.8(b), until the time of finishing duty.

(b) Entering upon duty means the earlier of:

12.9 Days off

(a) Each employee will have at least 2 days off in every 7 days in relation to the period over which 38 hours is averaged in accordance with clause 12.1.

(b) Employees who work under an arrangement where the 38 hours allow for more than 2 days off a week may bank up to 5 additional days off with the agreement of their employer.

(c) An employer may require an employee to work on the employee’s day off in case of an emergency or a shortage of staff because of sickness or other cause which cannot reasonably be foreseen. In this case, the employer must give the employee as much notice as possible and will, within the same or the succeeding week, give the employee another day off in place of the original one.

(d) Where an employee is given a day off duty, that day will start 12 hours after the time the employee finished duty.

(e) When an employee is given 2 or more consecutive days off duty, those consecutive days will start 8 hours after the employee finished duty.

(f) Employees who are not given their days off in accordance with clause 12.9 will be paid 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for all work done on any such day or days with a minimum payment of 4 hours.

13. Breaks

13.1 An employee must not be required to work more than 5 hours without a break of at least 20 minutes.

13.2 Subject to clause 13.3, where an employee is permitted a one hour meal break, the employer will be entitled to deduct one hour from the total time worked. If the break permitted is less than one hour, no time will be deducted. Not more than one hour will be deducted in any one day.

13.3 Where an employee in a country non-daily newspaper is permitted a meal break of at least 30 minutes, the employer will be entitled to deduct the time for the meal break from the total time worked. If the break is less than 30 minutes no time will be deducted. Not more than one and a half hours will be deducted in any one day.

Part 4—Wages and Allowances

14. Minimum rates

14.1 An employer must pay employees (other than cadets) the following minimum rates for ordinary hours worked by the employee:

Level

Minimum weekly rate
(full-time employee)

Minimum hourly rate

 

$

$

Band 1

   

1

941.10

24.77

2

967.50

25.46

3

1,009.00

26.55

4

1,036.10

27.27

5

1,063.10

27.98

6

1,117.60

29.41

7

1,166.40

30.69

Band 2

   

8

1,220.80

32.13

9

1,301.90

34.26

10

1,301.90

34.26

Band 3

   

11

1,424.20

37.48

12

1,600.30

42.11

13

1,789.90

47.10

14.2 Cadets will be paid the following percentage of the rate for a Level 1 employee:

Year

% of Level 1 rate

1st

60

2nd

75

3rd

90

14.3 Higher duties

15. Payment of wages

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

15.1 An employer may pay an employee’s wages on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis by cash, cheque or electronic funds transfer.

15.2 An employer changing from a weekly or fortnightly pay cycle to a monthly pay cycle must give employees at least 2 months’ notice of the change.

15.3 Payment on termination of employment

(a) The employer must pay an employee no later than 7 days after the day on which the employee’s employment terminates:

(b) The requirement to pay wages and other amounts under clause 15.3(a) is subject to further order of the Commission and the employer making deductions authorised by this award or the Act.

16. Allowances

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

16.1 Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 16.

16.2 Wage-related allowances

16.3 Expense-related allowances

17. Superannuation

17.1 Superannuation legislation

(a) Superannuation legislation, including the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Guarantee Charge Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), deals with the superannuation rights and obligations of employers and employees. Under superannuation legislation individual employees generally have the opportunity to choose their own superannuation fund. If an employee does not choose a superannuation fund, any superannuation fund nominated in the award covering the employee applies.

(b) The rights and obligations in these clauses supplement those in superannuation legislation.

17.2 Employer contributions

17.3 Voluntary employee contributions

(a) Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, an employee may, in writing, authorise their employer to pay on behalf of the employee a specified amount from the post-taxation wages of the employee into the same superannuation fund as the employer makes the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 17.2.

(b) An employee may adjust the amount the employee has authorised their employer to pay from the wages of the employee from the first of the month following the giving of three months’ written notice to their employer.

(c) The employer must pay the amount authorised under clauses 17.3(a) or 17.3(b) no later than 28 days after the end of the month in which the deduction authorised under clauses 17.3(a) or 17.3(b) was made.

17.4 Superannuation fund

(a) Media Super;

(b) any superannuation fund to which the employer was making superannuation contributions for the benefit of its employees before 12 September 2008, provided the superannuation fund is an eligible choice fund and is a fund that offers a MySuper product or is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme; or

(c) a superannuation fund or scheme which the employee is a defined benefit member of.

Part 5—Overtime and Penalty Rates

Part 5 will not have any application to the employees listed at clause 4.9(a), subject to clause 4.9(c).

18. Overtime

18.1 The hourly rate for overtime purposes will be calculated based on the minimum hourly rate in clause 14Minimum rates.

18.2 Daily overtime means all time necessary to be worked outside of an employee’s rostered hours of duty, except for time worked on a rostered day off.

18.3 Daily overtime will be compensated for in the following manner:

(a) overtime will be banked to be taken as time off instead at single time;

(b) time off instead of overtime will be taken as mutually agreed, or by the employer rostering accrued overtime as time off instead, by giving at least 14 days’ notice that the employee is required to take such accrued time off instead. An employee may, under section 65 of the Act, request to take time off at a time or times specified in the request;

(c) time off instead of overtime not taken within 4 months of the overtime being worked must be paid out in the next pay period following those 4 months, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked;

(d) on termination of an employee’s employment, all untaken time off instead of overtime will be paid out at overtime rates prescribed in clause 18.3(e), subject to the forfeiture for inadequate notice as provided for under clause 30.2;

(e) where mutually agreed, overtime may be paid as it is worked at the rate of 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours and 200% of the ordinary hourly rate after 2 hours; and

(f) any time allowed off duty instead of overtime will be deemed to be ordinary rostered hours for the day or days on which the time off instead is taken.

18.4 The employer must keep an accurate record of:

(a) overtime worked and banked as time off instead of overtime under clause 18.3(a);

(b) time taken off as time off instead of overtime under clause 18.3(b);

(c) time off instead of overtime that is paid out at overtime rates under clause 18.3(c); and

(d) time off instead of overtime that is paid out on termination of employment under clause 18.3(d).

18.5 For the purposes of clause 18.4, the records relating to individual employees:

(a) must be maintained as an employee record; and

(b) must be accessible (preferably via electronic means) at least upon request, so that the employee can readily confirm how much time off instead of overtime they have accrued, taken or received as payment.

18.6 When an employee is not given the days off provided for in clause 12.9, the employee must be paid at the rate of 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for all work done on any such day or days with a minimum payment of 4 hours.

18.7 Insufficient break

(a) if the break is less than 8 hours, overtime will be paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for all work done before the expiration of 11 hours break;

(b) if the break is 8 hours or more, overtime will be paid at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for all work done before the expiration of the 11 hour break;

(c) time worked during any period of insufficient break will not be included in the calculation of weekly hours; and

(d) in no circumstances will overtime involved in clause 18.7 be compensated for more than once.

18.8 Distant engagements

(a) Notwithstanding the above, overtime for employees employed in a metropolitan newspaper, wire service or a magazine on a distant engagement will be governed by clause 18.8.

(b) Distant engagement means an assignment requiring an employee to spend one or more nights away from the location where they are regularly employed (the place of origin), and on which the employee has at least 6 hours rest each night.

(d) Calculation of ordinary hours of work, overtime, shift penalty rates and treatment of days off on a distant engagement

19. Shiftwork and weekend penalty rates

19.1 Subject to the provisions of clause 19, an employee who is instructed by the employer to perform and performs ordinary hours on a shift will be entitled to be paid 110% of the ordinary hourly rate for all ordinary hours worked on a shift:

(a) any part of which falls between the hours of 6.00 am and 7.00 am, or

(b) that concludes between the hours of 6.00 pm and 8.30 pm.

19.2 Subject to the provisions of clause 19, an employee who is instructed by the employer to perform and performs ordinary hours on a shift, any part of which falls between the hours of 8.30 pm and 6.00 am, will be entitled to the following rates for all ordinary hours worked on that shift:

Employees employed by a

% of ordinary hourly rate

Metropolitan daily newspaper, suburban newspaper, a magazine or a wire service

117.5%

Regional daily newspaper or a country non-daily newspaper

115%

19.3 The additional rates provided in clauses 19.1 and 19.2 are not cumulative and, where any shift attracts both shift penalty rates, the higher percentage only will be paid.

19.4 Saturday and Sunday work

(a) Subject to the provisions of clause 19, an employee who is rostered to perform and performs ordinary hours on a shift where the greater part of the shift falls between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday will be paid 110% of the ordinary hourly rate for that shift.

(b) Clause 19.4(a) does not apply to employees employed in a country non-daily newspaper.

19.5 The rates prescribed in clause 19 will not exceed the amount calculated based on the rate for:

(a) in the case of employees employed by a metropolitan daily newspaper or a magazine, wire service or regional daily newspaper—Level 8 employee;

(b) in the case of employees employed by a suburban newspaper—Level 3 employee; or

(c) in the case of any other employees—Level 6 employee.

19.6 The shift penalty rates prescribed in clause 19 are payable only in respect of ordinary hours of work and not when overtime is worked.

20. Specialist publications

20.1 The ordinary hours of duty for employees employed on specialist publications will be 38 hours a week which may be worked on any day of the week determined by the employer.

20.2 Work in excess of 38 hours

(a) Where an employee, other than a casual employee, is required to work in excess of 38 hours in any week, the employee will be entitled to time off for a period which is the same as the periods of overtime worked.

(b) This will be taken within 6 weeks of the end of the week in which the overtime was worked. The employer may determine when this time is taken off.

(c) If for any reason, this time off is not taken, the employee will be paid for such overtime at the rate of 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 8 hours overtime and 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for all overtime in excess of 8 hours in any week.

Part 6—Leave and Public Holidays

21. Annual leave

21.1 Annual leave is provided for in the NES.

21.2 Annual leave and public holidays

(a) Notwithstanding clause 21.1, employees required by their employer to work public holidays at ordinary hourly rates of pay will be credited with additional annual leave, as follows:

Engaged by

Additional annual leave per year

A metropolitan daily newspaper, wire service, regional daily newspaper, suburban newspaper or magazine

13 days

A country non-daily newspaper

10 days

(b) The additional annual leave in clause 21.2(a) is instead of any penalty provisions provided for in clause 26.2.

21.3 An employee who is credited additional annual leave in accordance with clause 21.2(a) who is not required to work on a particular public holiday (apart from Good Friday and Christmas Day) must be notified by the employer at least 14 days before the public holiday and that day will be deemed to be taken as an annual leave day.

21.4 Where an employee is credited an additional amount of annual leave in accordance with clause 21.2(a), should Christmas Day or Good Friday fall during the employee’s annual leave, the employee will be allowed an extra day’s annual leave or paid 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for one day.

21.5 Annual leave loading

21.6 Requirement to take annual leave notwithstanding terms of the NES

21.7 Annual leave in advance

(a) An employer and employee may agree in writing to the employee taking a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave.

(b) An agreement must:

(c) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 21.7 as an employee record.

(d) If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken in accordance with an agreement under clause 21.7, the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

21.8 Annual close-down

(a) the employer gives not less than 4 weeks’ notice of intention to do so;

(b) an employee who has accrued sufficient leave to cover the period of the close-down is allowed leave and is also paid for that leave at the appropriate wage;

(c) an employee who has not accrued sufficient leave to cover part or all of the close-down, is allowed paid leave for the period for which they have accrued sufficient leave and given unpaid leave for the remainder of the close-down;

(d) any leave taken by an employee as a result of a close-down pursuant to clause 21.8 also counts as service by the employee with their employer;

(e) the employer may only close down the enterprise or part of it pursuant to clause 21.8 for one or 2 separate periods in a year; and

(f) if the employer closes down the enterprise or part of it pursuant to clause 21.8 in 2 separate periods, one of the periods must be for a period of at least 14 consecutive days including non-working days.

21.9 Cashing out of annual leave

(a) Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with an agreement under clause 21.9.

(b) Each cashing out of a particular amount of paid annual leave must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 21.9.

(c) An employer and an employee may agree in writing to the cashing out of a particular amount of accrued paid annual leave by the employee.

(d) An agreement under clause 21.9 must state:

(e) An agreement under clause 21.9 must be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

(f) The payment must not be less than the amount that would have been payable had the employee taken the leave at the time the payment is made.

(g) An agreement must not result in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being less than 4 weeks.

(h) The maximum amount of accrued paid annual leave that may be cashed out in any period of 12 months is 2 weeks.

(i) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 21.9 as an employee record.

21.10 Excessive leave accruals: general provision

(a) An employee has an excessive leave accrual if the employee has accrued more than 12 weeks’ paid annual leave.

(b) If an employee has an excessive leave accrual, the employer or the employee may seek to confer with the other and genuinely try to reach agreement on how to reduce or eliminate the excessive leave accrual.

(c) Clause 21.11 sets out how an employer may direct an employee who has an excessive leave accrual to take paid annual leave.

(d) Clause 21.12 sets out how an employee who has an excessive leave accrual may require an employer to grant paid annual leave requested by the employee.

21.11 Excessive leave accruals: direction by employer that leave be taken

(a) If an employer has genuinely tried to reach agreement with an employee under clause 21.10(b) but agreement is not reached (including because the employee refuses to confer), the employer may direct the employee in writing to take one or more periods of paid annual leave.

(b) However, a direction by the employer under clause 21.11(a):

(c) The employee must take paid annual leave in accordance with a direction under clause 21.11(a) that is in effect.

(d) An employee to whom a direction has been given under clause 21.11(a) may request to take a period of paid annual leave as if the direction had not been given.

21.12 Excessive leave accruals: request by employee for leave

(a) If an employee has genuinely tried to reach agreement with an employer under clause 21.10(b) but agreement is not reached (including because the employer refuses to confer), the employee may give a written notice to the employer requesting to take one or more periods of paid annual leave.

(b) However, an employee may only give a notice to the employer under clause 21.12(a) if:

(c) A notice given by an employee under clause 21.12(a) must not:

(d) An employee is not entitled to request by a notice under clause 21.12(a) more than 4 weeks’ paid annual leave in any period of 12 months.

(e) The employer must grant paid annual leave requested by a notice under clause 21.12(a).

22. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave

Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.

23. Parental leave and related entitlements

Parental leave and related entitlements are provided for in the NES.

24. Community service leave

Community service leave is provided for in the NES.

25. Unpaid family and domestic violence leave

Unpaid family and domestic violence leave is provided for in the NES.

NOTE 1: Information concerning an employee’s experience of family and domestic violence is sensitive and if mishandled can have adverse consequences for the employee. Employers should consult with such employees regarding the handling of this information.

NOTE 2: Depending upon the circumstances, evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of the employee’s need to take family and domestic violence leave may include a document issued by the police service, a court or family violence support service, or a statutory declaration.

26. Public holidays

26.1 Public holiday entitlements are provided for in the NES.

26.2 Work on public holidays

(a) will be paid at ordinary rates and provided with a day off instead; or

(b) paid 250% of the ordinary hourly rate, with a minimum payment of 4 hours.

26.3 Employees receiving additional annual leave

(a) Clauses 21.3, 21.4 and 26.2 do not apply to any employee receiving additional annual leave under clause 21.2(a).

(b) An employee receiving additional annual leave under clause 21.2(a) is required to work on public holidays at ordinary rates of pay, unless directed to take a day of annual leave under clause 21.3.

(c) If an employee receiving additional annual leave in accordance with clause 21.2(a) is required to work on Good Friday or Christmas Day, the employee is entitled to an additional day off work in the fortnight in which that public holiday occurs. By agreement between an employee and employer, the additional day off may be banked and taken at a later time.

26.4 Substitution of certain public holidays by agreement at the enterprise

(a) An employer and employee may agree to substitute another day for a day that would otherwise be a public holiday under the NES.

(b) An employer and employee may agree to substitute another part-day for a part-day that would otherwise be a part-day public holiday under the NES.

26.5 Part-day public holidays

Part 7—Consultation and Dispute Resolution

27. Consultation about major workplace change

27.1 If an employer makes a definite decision to make major changes in production, program, organisation, structure or technology that are likely to have significant effects on employees, the employer must:

(a) give notice of the changes to all employees who may be affected by them and their representatives (if any); and

(b) discuss with affected employees and their representatives (if any):

(c) commence discussions as soon as practicable after a definite decision has been made.

27.2 For the purposes of the discussion under clause 27.1(b), the employer must give in writing to the affected employees and their representatives (if any) all relevant information about the changes including:

(a) their nature; and

(b) their expected effect on employees; and

(c) any other matters likely to affect employees.

27.3 Clause 27.2 does not require an employer to disclose any confidential information if its disclosure would be contrary to the employer’s interests.

27.4 The employer must promptly consider any matters raised by the employees or their representatives about the changes in the course of the discussion under clause 27.1(b).

27.5 In clause 27 significant effects, on employees, includes any of the following:

(a) termination of employment; or

(b) major changes in the composition, operation or size of the employer’s workforce or in the skills required; or

(c) loss of, or reduction in, job or promotion opportunities; or

(d) loss of, or reduction in, job tenure; or

(e) alteration of hours of work; or

(f) the need for employees to be retrained or transferred to other work or locations; or

(g) job restructuring.

27.6 Where this award makes provision for alteration of any of the matters defined at clause 27.5, such alteration is taken not to have significant effect.

28. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work

28.1 Clause 28 applies if an employer proposes to change the regular roster or ordinary hours of work of an employee, other than an employee whose working hours are irregular, sporadic or unpredictable.

28.2 The employer must consult with any employees affected by the proposed change and their representatives (if any).

28.3 For the purpose of the consultation, the employer must:

(a) provide to the employees and representatives mentioned in clause 28.2 information about the proposed change (for example, information about the nature of the change and when it is to begin); and

(b) invite the employees to give their views about the impact of the proposed change on them (including any impact on their family or caring responsibilities) and also invite their representative (if any) to give their views about that impact.

28.4 The employer must consider any views given under clause 28.3(b).

28.5 Clause 28 is to be read in conjunction with any other provisions of this award concerning the scheduling of work or the giving of notice.

29. Dispute resolution

29.1 Clause 29 sets out the procedures to be followed if a dispute arises about a matter under this award or in relation to the NES.

29.2 The parties to the dispute must first try to resolve the dispute at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and the relevant supervisor.

29.3 If the dispute is not resolved through discussion as mentioned in clause 29.2, the parties to the dispute must then try to resolve it in a timely manner at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and more senior levels of management, as appropriate.

29.4 If the dispute is unable to be resolved at the workplace and all appropriate steps have been taken under clauses 29.2 and 29.3, a party to the dispute may refer it to the Fair Work Commission.

29.5 The parties may agree on the process to be followed by the Fair Work Commission in dealing with the dispute, including mediation, conciliation and consent arbitration.

29.6 If the dispute remains unresolved, the Fair Work Commission may use any method of dispute resolution that it is permitted by the Act to use and that it considers appropriate for resolving the dispute.

29.7 A party to the dispute may appoint a person, organisation or association to support and/or represent them in any discussion or process under clause 29.

29.8 While procedures are being followed under clause 29 in relation to a dispute:

(a) work must continue in accordance with this award and the Act; and

(b) an employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with any direction given by the employer about performing work, whether at the same or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

29.9 Clause 29.8 is subject to any applicable work health and safety legislation.

Part 8—Termination of Employment and Redundancy

30. Termination of employment

NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.

30.1 Notice of termination by an employee

(a) Clause 30.1 applies to all employees except those identified in sections 123(1) and 123(3) of the Act.

(b) An employee must give the employer notice of termination in accordance with Table 1—Period of notice of at least the period specified in column 2 according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1.

(c) In clause 30.1(b) continuous service has the same meaning as in section 117 of the Act.

(d) If an employee who is at least 18 years old does not give the period of notice required under clause 30.1(b), then the employer may deduct from wages due to the employee under this award an amount that is no more than one week’s wages for the employee.

(e) If the employer has agreed to a shorter period of notice than that required under clause 30.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 30.1(d).

(f) Any deduction made under clause 30.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.

30.2 Job search entitlement

(a) Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b) The time off under clause 30.2 is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.

31. Redundancy

NOTE: Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES. See sections 119 to 123 of the Act.

31.1 Transfer to lower paid duties on redundancy

(a) Clause 31.1 applies if, because of redundancy, an employee is transferred to new duties to which a lower ordinary rate of pay applies.

(b) The employer may:

(c) If the employer acts as mentioned in clause 31.1(b)(ii), the employee is entitled to a payment of an amount equal to the difference between the ordinary rate of pay of the employee (inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift penalty rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) for the hours of work the employee would have worked in the first role, and the ordinary rate of pay (also inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift penalty rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) of the employee in the second role for the period for which notice was not given.

31.2 Employee leaving during redundancy notice period

(a) An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy may terminate their employment during the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act.

(b) The employee is entitled to receive the benefits and payments they would have received under clause 31 or under sections 119 to 123 of the Act had they remained in employment until the expiry of the notice.

(c) However, the employee is not entitled to be paid for any part of the period of notice remaining after the employee ceased to be employed.

31.3 Job search entitlement

(a) Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee in circumstances of redundancy, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day each week of the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b) If an employee is allowed time off without loss of pay of more than one day under clause 31.3(a), the employee must, at the request of the employer, produce proof of attendance at an interview.

(c) A statutory declaration is sufficient for the purpose of clause 31.3(b).

(d) An employee who fails to produce proof when required under clause 31.3(b) is not entitled to be paid for the time off.

(e) This entitlement applies instead of clause 30.2.

Schedule A—Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay

A.1 Full-time and part-time employees
A.1.1 Ordinary hourly rate is the minimum hourly rate of pay for an employee plus any allowance payable for all purposes to which the employee is entitled. Where an allowance is payable for all purposes in accordance with clause 16.2(a), this forms part of the employee’s ordinary hourly rate and must be added to the minimum hourly rate prior to calculating penalties and overtime.
A.1.2 The rates in the tables below are based on the minimum hourly rates in accordance with clause 14Minimum rates. Consistent with clause A.1.1, all-purpose allowances need to be added to the rates in the table where they are applicable.
A.1.3 Full-time and part-time employees—ordinary and penalty rates

A.1.4 Full-time and part-time employees—overtime rates

 

Ordinary hours

Monday to Sunday

Distant engagement: Monday to Sunday

Public holiday6

First 2 hours for full-time employees, first 3 hours for part-time employees

After the first 2 hours for full-time employees, after the first 3 hours for part-time employees

First 8 hours

After 8 hours

 

% of ordinary hourly rate5

 

100%

150%

200%

150%

200%

250%

 

$

$

$

$

$

$

Band 1

           

Level 1

24.77

37.16

49.54

37.16

49.54

61.93

Level 2

25.46

38.19

50.92

38.19

50.92

63.65

Level 3

26.55

39.83

53.10

39.83

53.10

66.38

Level 4

27.27

40.91

54.54

40.91

54.54

68.18

Level 5

27.98

41.97

55.96

41.97

55.96

69.95

Level 6

29.41

44.12

58.82

44.12

58.82

73.53

Level 7

30.69

46.04

61.38

46.04

61.38

76.73

Band 2

           

Level 8

32.13

48.20

64.26

48.20

64.26

80.33

Level 91

34.26

51.39

68.52

51.39

68.52

85.65

Level 92

34.26

85.65

Level 103

36.40

54.60

72.80

54.60

72.80

91.00

Level 104

36.40

91.00

Band 3

           

Level 11

37.48

56.22

74.96

56.22

74.96

93.70

Level 12

42.11

105.28

Level 13

47.10

117.75

1 Except country non-daily newspaper employees.
2 Country non-daily newspaper only.
3 Except suburban newspaper employees.
4 Suburban newspaper employees only.
5 Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate, see clauses A.1.1 and A.1.2.

6 Other than employees receiving additional annual leave under clause 21.2(a).

A.1.5 Metropolitan daily newspaper, magazine, wire service or regional daily newspaper employees—penalty rates

A.1.6 Suburban newspaper employees—penalty rates

A.1.7 All other publication employees—other than shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.1.8 Regional daily and country non-daily employees—shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.2 Casual employees
A.2.1 Casual employees—ordinary and penalty rates

 

Ordinary hours

Public holiday

 

% of ordinary hourly rate1

 

125%

275%

 

$

$

Band 1

   

Level 1

30.96

68.12

Level 2

31.83

70.02

Level 3

33.19

73.01

Level 4

34.09

74.99

Level 5

34.98

76.95

Level 6

36.76

80.88

Level 7

38.36

84.40

Band 2

   

Level 8

40.16

88.36

Level 9

42.83

94.22

Level 10

45.50

100.10

Band 3

   

Level 11

46.85

103.07

Level 12

52.64

115.80

Level 13

58.88

129.53

A.2.2 Metropolitan daily newspaper, magazine, wire service or regional daily newspaper employees—penalty rates

A.2.3 Suburban newspaper employees—penalty rates

A.2.4 All other publication employees—other than shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.2.5 Regional daily and county non-daily employees—shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.3 Cadets
A.3.1 Full-time and part-time cadets—ordinary and penalty rates

A.3.2 Full-time and part-time cadets—overtime rates

 

Cadet per-centage

Ordinary hours

Monday to Sunday

Distant engagement: Monday to Sunday

Public holiday2

First 2 hours for full-time employees, first 3 hours for part-time employees

After the first 2 hours for full-time employees, after the first 3 hours for part-time employees

First 8 hours

After 8 hours

 

% of Level 1 employee

% of ordinary hourly rate1

 

 

100%

150%

200%

150%

200%

250%

 

%

$

$

$

$

$

$

Standard Cadet

             

1st year

60%

14.86

22.29

29.72

22.29

29.72

37.15

2nd year

75%

18.58

27.87

37.16

27.87

37.16

46.45

3rd year

90%

22.29

33.44

44.58

33.44

44.58

55.73

Graduate Cadet

90%

22.29

33.44

44.58

33.44

44.58

55.73

1 Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate, see clauses A.1.1 and A.1.2.

2 Other than employees receiving additional annual leave under clause 21.2(a).

A.3.3 All publication cadet employees—other than shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.3.4 Metropolitan daily newspaper, magazine, wire service or regional daily newspaper cadet shiftworkers—penalty rates

A.3.5 Regional daily and county non-daily cadet employees—shiftworkers—penalty rates

Schedule B—Summary of Monetary Allowances

See clause 16Allowances for full details of allowances payable under this award.

B.1 Wage-related allowances

B.2 Expense-related allowances
B.2.1 The following expense-related allowances will be payable to employees in accordance with clause 16.3:

B.2.2 Adjustment of expense-related allowances

   

Schedule C—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance
Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree that the employee will take a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave:

The amount of leave to be taken in advance is: ____ hours/days

The leave in advance will commence on: ___/___/20___

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

Name of employer representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

[If the employee is under 18 years of age - include:]

I agree that:

if, on termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken under this agreement, then the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

   

Schedule D—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave
Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree to the employee cashing out a particular amount of the employee’s accrued paid annual leave:

The amount of leave to be cashed out is: ____ hours/days

The payment to be made to the employee for the leave is: $_______ subject to deduction of income tax/after deduction of income tax (strike out where not applicable)

The payment will be made to the employee on: ___/___/20___

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

Name of employer representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

Include if the employee is under 18 years of age:

Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

   

Schedule E—Part-day Public Holidays
E.1 This schedule operates where this award otherwise contains provisions dealing with public holidays that supplement the NES.
E.2 Where a part-day public holiday is declared or prescribed between 6.00 pm and midnight, or 7.00 pm and midnight on Christmas Eve (24 December in each year) or New Year’s Eve (31 December in each year) the following will apply on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and will override any provision in this award relating to public holidays to the extent of the inconsistency:

E.2.2 An employer and employee may agree to substitute another part-day for a part-day that would otherwise be a part-day public holiday under the NES.
E.2.3 This schedule is not intended to detract from or supplement the NES.

Schedule 24—Additional Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic
E.3 Subject to clauses X.2.1(d) and X.2.2(c), Schedule X operates from 8 April 2020 until 30 June 2020. The period of operation can be extended on application.
E.4 During the operation of Schedule X, the following provisions apply:
E.4.1 Unpaid pandemic leave

E.4.2 Annual leave at half pay

NOTE 1: A employee covered by this award who is entitled to the benefit of clause X.2.1 or X.2.2 has a workplace right under section 341(1)(a) of the Act.

NOTE 2: Under section 340(1) of the Act, an employer must not take adverse action against an employee because the employee has a workplace right, has or has not exercised a workplace right, or proposes or does not propose to exercise a workplace right, or to prevent the employee exercising a workplace right. Under section 342(1) of the Act, an employer takes adverse action against an employee if the employer dismisses the employee, injures the employee in his or her employment, alters the position of the employee to the employee’s prejudice, or discriminates between the employee and other employees of the employer.

NOTE 3: Under section 343(1) of the Act, a person must not organise or take, or threaten to organise or take, action against another person with intent to coerce the person to exercise or not exercise, or propose to exercise or not exercise, a workplace right, or to exercise or propose to exercise a workplace right in a particular way.