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Hi Xero Team,

I’ve noticed many comments from users requesting this upgrade to the Payroll module, yet there still doesn’t seem to be any response or indication of an action plan from Xero.

Other payroll providers — including some free platforms — have already implemented similar functionality. If they can offer this capability, it’s unclear what is preventing Xero from doing the same. This upgrade would be a genuine value‑add and a significant win for many of your long‑term and loyal customers.

Could you please provide an update or clarity on whether this enhancement is being considered?

Thank you.

What We’re Hoping Xero Can Improve
✔️ Automated award rate updates whenever SCHADS pay tables change
✔️ Built‑in award interpretation, reducing manual configuration
✔️ Simplified tools for maintaining classifications, penalties, and allowances
✔️ Improved visibility and accuracy across complex shift types
Impact for the Sector
This enhancement would:

Improve payroll accuracy and compliance
Save businesses significant time and cost
Reduce risk associated with manual updates
Support disability, aged care, community, and social services providers who rely heavily on SCHADS workforce structures

Enhanced SCHADS Award interpretation in Xero Payroll, with automated and easy-to-update pay rate changes whenever the award is updated.

Why This Matters
The SCHADS Award is highly complex, with frequent adjustments to:

Minimum hourly rates
Allowances
Overtime and penalty structures
Sleepover and broken-shift arrangements
Industry-specific entitlements

Manually updating these changes every time Fair Work releases an adjustment is time‑consuming, prone to error, and risky from a compliance perspective—especially for organisations managing large casual and part‑time workforces.

come on, make it happen, folks

Deputy does this automatically. You could as well!

it's critical for bookkeepers in terms of time when you have multiple clients, we have to apply new rate to all employees almost at the same week. Please continue this conversation for development, innovation, etc.

I've just migrated from a free software (e payday go) which had the ability to enter the award and everything automatically updated with the change of financial year. All I had to do was accept the changes.

Extremely disappointed that XERO that everyone recommended doesn't offer the equivalent of a free service.

This is extremely important for payroll - and I'm astounded its not already a part of Xero payroll

This would be great value to our NFP organisation which is covered under the SCHCADS award. Is there an update on whether this will become reality and if so, when? It's been 3 years since Christal Ho suggested the idea and nearly a year since the last comment was made.

Please please please please implement this. As a business in the hospitality industry, running 24/7, the amount of pay grades, loadings, penalties is insane. The whole point would be to reduce the human error while entering dozens of different pay rates - and make sure everyone is paid correctly!

Any update on this? As be great to have it before awards go up again 1 July this year....

Critical for us and add more value to Xero

It will likely increase the number of users/subscribers.

With all due respect, I don't think implementing this in Xero is too hard. My clients would rather pay a little more for Xero subscriptions than have to pay for another software subscription.

With award integration you would be saving your clients money so they don’t have to pay for employment hero or deputy etc. it’s a vital part of payroll

YES! Every time I have to do something for a client that needs me to know which Award their employee is covered under (or not), I have to look it up separately for each employee. Like when the minimum wages for people covered under a particular Award go up, checking individually who is covered at what level under which Award and then individually making sure that they're being paid at least that much is SO TEDIOUS

In the Employee section, under Employment Tab:
Have a section/box for Award - maybe a drop down menu to choose from? There are only 122 Awards and that doesn't change.
(as well as classification box - don't remove that)

Payroll - a complete new payroll programme within XERO for timesheets and award integration and interpretation. Tanda, Deputy and Keypay are our current options. However, it would be much better for XERO to offer this as part of their solutions for our business.
Timesheets in XERO are very basic and not suitable for all our 50plus staff and our 3 branch locations.

This is a great idea, award interpretation is available in other software, it would assist business owners to keep compliant with any pay rate increases that occur.