Human resources employees may work in some or all of the following areas:

• recruitment and selection
• training, learning and development
• performance management systems including coaching and mentoring
• diversity and work/life balance policy development
• workplace health and safety program implementation
• workplace relations advice including negotiating pay and conditions
• payroll management including superannuation and tax
• HR reporting and long-term human resources planning.

Industry award coverage

An industry award covers an employee working in human resources if:

• their employer operates in the industry covered by the award
• there’s a classification which matches the employee’s duties and qualifications.

For example, a human resources employee may be covered by one of the following industry awards:

• Animal and Veterinary Services Award
• Banking, Finance and Insurance Award
• Electrical Power Award
• Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award
• Health Services Award
• Hospitality Award
• Rail Award
• Registered Clubs Award
• Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award.

No industry award coverage

Where there’s no industry award covering the employer of a human resources employee, the employee might be:

• covered by the Clerks Award
• covered by the Miscellaneous Award, or
• award free.

Clerks Award

The Clerks Award may cover a human resources employee if their role is mainly clerical and administrative.

The employee’s classification depends on their skills and responsibilities.

For example, employees advising on employment conditions or administering salary and payroll for an employer can be covered by the Clerks Award.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award can cover a human resources employee if:

• they’re not a clerical employee covered by the Clerks Award
• they're not a managerial or professional employee.

An employee may be considered a professional employee if their role requires a degree qualification, for example, a bachelor of business (human resource management).

They’ll be classified based on their duties and qualifications.

Award free employees

Human resources employees who aren’t covered by an industry award or the Clerks Award are award free.

For example, human resources managers are generally award free.

They’re entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.