At Class Locksmiths we value and treat every single employee as a major asset. Our workplace relations policy is built on the important principles of fairness, total respect, openness, honesty and reward and recognition for quality contribution.

These principles are integral to our day-to-day operations. Hence new staff are trained on these values and existing staff refreshed on their importance throughout each year.

Class Locksmiths complies with all relevant legal, regulatory, and award provisions required by the Australian Government and the ACT Government. This includes strict adherence to Fair Work Act 2009, National Employment Standards, Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2010, WHS Accreditation and Compliance, Workers Compensation, and Superannuation Guarantee Charge.

For us, it is the big workplace relations issues that matter most:

  • Our qualified SCEC locksmiths are paid well above the required award.
  • Our apprentices are paid a weekly allowance of $90 over and above the award.
  • We have a system of performance bonuses to ensure employee efforts are rewarded.
  • We have formalised annual salary reviews, including 360 degree feedback from management and colleagues focusing on performance (strengths, weaknesses, areas of improvement) and based on a frank, two-way exchange..
  • Our formalised annual development reviews provide the basis for structured development and career plans and coaching, with each employee having a tailor-made development plan to assist with their career advancement (including internal training and external training, at company expense).

But it’s not just the ‘big ticket workplace relations that matter to us. It’s the smaller gestures we make too. For example we provide all employees paid leave on their birthday.

Other important components of our workplace relations policy at Class Locksmiths

  1. Respect for the rights of employees to make a free and informed choice about whether to join a union and be represented at work (Note: to date no one has opted to join a union and staff have told us one reason is because they are paid so well above the award and have a comfortable and welcoming work environment.)
  2. Systematic approach to open communications. Accordingly this includes regular forums and meetings (in groups and one-on-one) on all important workplace matters:
    • safety performance
    • acknowledging outstanding staff accomplishments and meaningful contributions to the business
    • company performance
    • interchange of information between the various department
    • airing and resolution of staff raised issues
    • WHSE issues
    • detailed training on new products and services
    • project planning and review
  3. Annual staff functions to celebrate individual and company accomplishments
  4. Efforts to maintain a healthy work-home balance for all staff, no matter what their duties.
  5. Growing our own team strength through apprenticeships.*

Work Environment

Last but not least our workplace relations policy covers our work environment. We provide a comfortable, safe and well equipped environment. Our up-to-date equipment and technology enable staff to perform their duties at the highest possible level. This includes investing in state-of-the art locksmithing tools, key machines, IT equipment, and business systems. Our workstations adhere to O&HS requirements, our environment is comfortably air conditioned and our vehicles kept at peak condition.

Industrial Relations and Employment

We currently hold the ACT Government Industrial Relations and Employment Certificate #1969 which permits us to tender for Building Work and perform
Building Work (if contracted to do so) on ACT Government controlled sites during the currency of the Certificate.

 

*Qualified locksmiths, operating at our standard, are in short supply. To ensure team strength and also to ensure the quality of our staff, Class Locksmiths has its own policy of developing through apprenticeships. On average the company has had four apprentices at any one time over the past five years, and we usually take on one or two new apprentices each year.