Signing up for a job

When you are successful in applying for a job, the employer will require several details from you. You may also be given documents detailing a number of policies, procedures and related information that you must sign to indicate you’ve read, understood and agree to abide by these policies. Here’s an overview.

Personal details
You will be asked to provide your full contact details and the name and address of next of kin in the event of an emergency.

Tax
Whenever you commence a new job you must complete a Tax File Number Declaration form. You do not have to provide a Tax File Number (TFN) if you are under 18 and earn less than $6,000 a year or receive certain Centrelink benefits. However, if you earn over $6,000 and do not quote a TFN, your employer must withhold 48.5% for tax from any salary payment – the highest marginal rate, plus Medicare levy (Note: If you have two jobs you can only claim exemption from withholding tax on one). More about the Tax File Number Declaration form...

Superannuation
You’ll be asked to supply the account number of your superannuation fund, if you have one, so contributions from your salary can be automatically deposited. Or your employer will provide you with details and a prospectus of the company superannuation fund. More about superannuation...

Employment agreement
You may be asked to sign one. This document may specify the title of the position; the reporting requirements (that is, who is your manager/s); the duration of employment, including the probationary period (during which an employer can dismiss you without any legal requirement to give you a reason); the objectives of the employment; your duties, the wages, hours and location of the job; and the key selection criteria. Its goal is to fully inform you of your responsibilities, the employer’s expectations of the role, and what you need to do to fulfil them. It is what your performance in the job will be judged against, and if you are subject to regular performance reviews, its information will be used as a benchmark for your assessment. More about agreements...

Occupational Health and Safety/Responsibilities for Safety
These documents will outline the company’s policies with regard to employee safety, in line with government legislation, and also detail your responsibilities.

Sexual harassment/Equity and Diversity/Equal Opportunity
These documents will outline the company’s strict policy discouraging sexual harassment or discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, gender, or sexuality (which are also protected by Federal Government anti-discrimination legislation).

Electronic communications
If you work where there is access to the Internet you may be required to agree to abide by certain rules regarding its usage on the company premises. These may include not using the company’s computers for personal affairs, not viewing pornography on the Web, and not sending or forwarding offensive emails.

Employee assistance program
The company may operate a program offering various employee benefits, such as counselling or time off for further education. This document will provide details.