Fitness Industry Award coverage: A comprehensive guide

The Fitness Industry Award 2020 is designed to ensure fair wages and working conditions for employees within the dynamic and expanding fitness sector. This award addresses the specific requirements and challenges faced by workers in various fitness roles, ensuring they are adequately compensated and protected. For businesses such as gyms, yoga studios, and personal training services, understanding and adhering to this award is essential for maintaining compliance and fostering a fair workplace environment. 

This guide focuses on coverage under the Fitness Industry Award, helping businesses navigate its nuances and stay compliant.

Note: The information provided in this article is accurate as of 04/09/2024. As award conditions and rates are subject to change, please refer to the latest version of the Fitness Industry Award for the most current information.

Who’s covered under the Fitness Industry Award?

The Fitness Award encompasses a diverse range of roles in the fitness sector. Below, you can explore who’s covered under the award:

Private sector employees in the fitness industry

These professionals are vital to the operation and success of fitness centres and related facilities, performing various duties to maintain and enhance the services provided. Examples include:

• Fitness instructors and personal trainers: Those responsible for conducting fitness classes, providing personal training sessions, and offering guidance on exercise routines and techniques.

• Group fitness coaches: Those leading group exercise classes, such as yoga, pilates, aerobics, and other fitness programs.

• Aquatic centre staff: Those managing and conducting aquatic fitness classes, swimming lessons, and maintaining safety in aquatic centre environments.
• Sports coaches and instructors: Those providing coaching in various sports, such as tennis, gymnastics, martial arts, and other indoor sports.

On-hire employees

On-hire or agency employees in the fitness sector are engaged by staffing agencies and work temporarily within fitness facilities on an as-needed basis. Examples include:

• Temporary fitness instructors: Those offering fitness instruction during peak times or special events at different fitness centres.

• Agency lifeguards: Skilled lifeguards working at various aquatic centres to support staff shortages or special programs.

• Casual sports coaches: Those assisting with sports coaching in gyms, recreational camps, or sports centres on a temporary basis.

Trainees employed by group training employers

Trainees in the fitness sector gain practical experience while being supported by a group training organisation, combining on-the-job training with formal education. Examples include:

• Apprentice fitness instructors: Those gaining practical skills in fitness instruction while pursuing formal qualifications in fitness training.

• Sports coaching trainees: Those applying learning in real-world sports settings, emerging as professionals in various coaching roles.
• Aquatic training trainees: Those working alongside experienced aquatic instructors, gaining practical experience and skills in conducting swimming lessons, aquatic fitness classes and ensuring pool safety.

Who isn’t covered under the Fitness Industry Award?

Understanding the exclusions and limitations of the Fitness Industry Award is essential. Here are details of those who fall outside this award's coverage:

• Administrative or operational support employees: This award doesn’t cover employees hired to provide administrative and other operational support outside of fitness centres, group fitness organisations, weight loss/control centres, aquatic centres, indoor sports centres, golf driving ranges, dance centres, martial arts centres, recreational camps, tennis clubs and centres. For example, a fitness centre chain marketing executive working at a corporate office doesn’t fall under this award.
• Employees excluded from modern awards: The Fair Work Act excludes certain individuals from award coverage. This includes high-level executives or senior managers who typically fall outside the scope of modern awards.
• Employees under modern enterprise awards or instruments: Employees covered by modern enterprise awards or enterprise instruments aren’t included in the Fitness Industry Award. For instance, staff working under a bespoke enterprise agreement tailored to a large gym chain are excluded from this award.
• State reference public sector employees: Employees governed by state-specific public sector awards or transitional awards are also excluded. For example, employees working in public sector sports facilities under a state-specific award wouldn’t be covered by the Fitness Industry Award.
• Employees covered by other specific awards: Certain employees are covered under different awards specific to their roles. For example, cleaners working in gyms would be covered by the Cleaning Services Award 2020, and not the Fitness Industry Award. Similarly, security staff at fitness centres would be covered by the Security Services Industry Award 2020.

If an employer’s covered by more than one award, the most appropriate award classification applies to the employee's normal work and environment. For instance, a fitness instructor primarily working in a recreational camp might fall under an award specific to that setting if it’s more relevant than the Fitness Industry Award.

Fitness Industry Award coverage: Practical example

Alex is a full-time manager at a bustling gym. His responsibilities include overseeing the gym's daily operations, managing staff, conducting personal training sessions, leading group fitness classes, writing workout programs for new members, and ensuring the facility is clean and safe.

Analysis

Alex’s role encompasses a blend of management duties and fitness-related tasks. While he performs administrative and cleaning responsibilities, his primary functions focus on personal training, leading group fitness classes, and creating workout programs. These core activities are central to the gym's fitness services, placing Alex squarely under the Fitness Industry Award, which specifically covers employees engaged in fitness centres and related establishments.

Steps to determine coverage

Determining whether an employee falls under the Fitness Industry Award requires a systematic approach. You can follow these steps:

1. Identify responsibilities: Begin by detailing the primary responsibilities and daily tasks of the employee.
2. Compare with awards: Examine the definitions and classifications provided in the Fitness Industry Award and other relevant awards to identify the best match.
3. Predominant Function Test: Determine if the main duties of the employee's role align with positions typically covered by the Fitness Industry Award.
4. Check exclusions: Review the exclusions listed in the Fitness Industry Award to ensure the employee’s role isn’t covered by another specific award, such as the Cleaning Services Award or the Security Services Industry Award.
5. Review other employment agreements: Consider any enterprise agreements or specific contracts that might affect award coverage.
6. Consult experts: If there’s any uncertainty about which award applies, seek guidance from industrial relations or legal professionals.
7. Maintain thorough records: Keep detailed records of your analysis, the awards considered, any expert advice received, and the rationale for your final decision to ensure compliance and clarity.

Distinctions within Fitness Award coverage

Understanding the coverage specifics of the Restaurant Industry Award is essential for ensuring compliance. Here are some key nuances that might catch employers by surprise:

Broad definition of the fitness industry

The Fitness Industry Award covers a wide range of establishments, including fitness centres, group fitness organisations, weight loss/control centres, aquatic centres, indoor sports centres, golf driving ranges, dance centres, martial arts centres, recreational camps, tennis clubs and centres, and gymnastic services. The broad scope might surprise employers, who might assume that only traditional gyms are eligible for the award, when, in fact, a variety of fitness-related businesses are.

Administrative and operational support

Employees who provide administrative and operational support outside of fitness centres and related establishments aren’t covered by the Fitness Industry Award. For instance, a bookkeeper working at a corporate office of a gym chain wouldn’t be covered by this award. Employers might overlook this distinction, assuming all staff within a fitness business are included.

Simplifying Fitness Industry Award coverage compliance with Rippling

Navigating the intricacies of award coverage requires careful management to ensure compliance and fair treatment of employees. Rippling’s unified platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools to simplify and streamline your business’s adherence to award coverage requirements. Key features include:

• Automated employee classification: Automatically classify employees according to the appropriate awards.
• Real-time compliance alerts: Stay updated with any changes in award coverage.
• Detailed reporting: Generate reports to ensure compliance and maintain accurate records.
• Custom templates: Use pre-built and customisable templates for various awards.
• Audit support: Access historical data and audit trails to support compliance audits.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.