Access all our key tools and resources in one place.

Learn about other services available, such as our Employer Advisory Service (EAS), and other government support.

On this page:

Cheat sheet

Complete this checklist so you’re across our key tools and resources:

Calculate pay, leave and redundancy

Use our Pay and Conditions Tool to easily calculate:

  • base pay rates, allowances and penalty rates (including overtime)
  • leave entitlements
  • notice and redundancy entitlements.

Check you’re paying employees correctly

Use the Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code (the Code) and our supporting guide to make sure employees are being paid correctly. Our guide offers practical advice and tools including a handy checklist, case studies and best practice tips.

This can help prepare and protect your business from criminal prosecution. Intentionally underpaying an employee’s wages or entitlements can be a criminal offence. This doesn’t include honest mistakes.

A small business employer can’t be referred for criminal prosecution by us if we’re satisfied that they’ve complied with the Code. Learn more at Criminal prosecution.

Check your workplace knowledge

Not sure where to begin with workplace laws? Take our free and quick 25-minute course to learn the basics on:

  • pay
  • leave
  • record-keeping
  • termination
  • other workplace laws.

Go to our Workplace Basics quiz.

You'll get immediate feedback as you move through the quiz. If you need some help with certain topics, you'll be provided with links to tools and resources to help you out.

Make our guidebooks your friend

Fair Work Handbook

The are many laws employers need to stay across, not least workplace laws. We have a single short handbook that outlines your key obligations and responsibilities: Fair Work Handbook: An employer’s guide to the Fair Work Act (DOC) (PDF).

The guide covers laws for:

  • pay and leave
  • managing performance
  • record-keeping and pay slips
  • ending employment.

Fact sheets

Don’t forget we have simple fact sheets on a wide range of topics, ranging from flexible work, record-keeping through to pay slips details. See our fact sheets:

Take our free online training

Get more tips and strategies to run your business. Take one of our many free and interactive online courses we offer in our Online learning centre.

The short courses (about 20-30 minutes each) will upskill you in:

  • record-keeping and pay slips
  • hiring staff
  • managing an employee’s performance
  • difficult conversations with your employees
  • flexible working arrangements
  • compliance notices.

Visit our Online learning centre.

Download easy-to-use templates

Compliance starts with good record-keeping.

Our Templates can help you quickly and easily record and manage employee entitlements, leave and requests. We have templates for:

Complete our self-audit checklist

Not sure if you’re meeting all your obligations as a small business employer? The easiest way to find out is to check for yourself.

Self-auditing your business has many benefits and reduces the likelihood of any costly mistakes or disputes in the future.

Our interactive checklist will give you an indication of how you’re tracking, and help you identify areas for improvement. Go to the Small business checklist.

Read step-by-step guides for workplace problems

Good employee management is linked to lower staff turnover and higher productivity.

Website guides

We have simple step-by-step guides for employers to use when dealing with workplace problems.

This includes on:

We also have an easy and straightforward guide you can use to help resolve other workplace problems. Go to Fixing a workplace problem.

Good communication practices can help prevent workplace problems from happening in the first place. See Preventing workplace problems for more information.

Downloadable guide

If you prefer a single downloadable resource, access our employer guide: An employer’s guide to resolving workplace issues (DOCX) (PDF)An employer’s guide to resolving workplace issues.

There’s free tips, tools and guidance on making a workplace problem right.

Keep up to date

Stay up to date by subscribing to our email updates. Based on your preferences, we’ll send you emails when:

  • important changes are made to pay rates and entitlements in your industry
  • we’ve developed new products that could make managing your business easier
  • any other relevant or important changes to your industry occur.

Head to subscribe to email updates.

Search our Library

Our website provides answers to most of your workplace relations questions. If you can’t find the information you need on the website, you might find it in our Library.

Use the Library’s search function or browse the list of new and popular articles to find the information you need. Search for keywords such as ‘leave’ or ‘notice’ to narrow down the results.

Visit our Library.

Access specialist help and information

Some small businesses find compliance with workplace laws easier when they have access to specialised help and advice.

Employer Advisory Service (EAS)

Small business employers may be eligible for free tailored written advice about pay and entitlements from our Employer Advisory Service (EAS). Learn more at Employer Advisory Service.

Employer and legal organisations

If you’re a member of an employer organisation, you may already have access to specialist workplace relations advisers. Find a list of employer associations in your industry on our list of Unions and employer associations page, with links to legal support options.

Seek out other government support

Small businesses can access a range of government services and support. See what’s on offer from the Australian Government and in your state or territory:

Access support for your mental wellbeing

Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health coaching program designed specifically to support small business owners and sole traders.

Over a series of sessions, you’ll work with a dedicated coach with a background in small business. Develop practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, and navigating both personal and professional challenges.

Visit Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners.

More information for small business