Hiring a tradie? Get the paperwork sorted properly from the start.

The Employment Agreement for Tradies is a practical, plain-English Australian employment agreement template designed for trade-based businesses that employ tradies, apprentices, labourers, technicians, supervisors or other trade-related workers.

It helps you clearly document the role, pay, hours, award details, tools, PPE, vehicle arrangements, workplace expectations, safety obligations and end-of-employment obligations, without making the agreement sound like it was written for a courtroom.

Employment Agreement Template for Tradies in Australia

Hiring someone for your trade business is a big step. Whether you run an electrical, plumbing, building, air-conditioning, landscaping, carpentry, painting, maintenance, construction, or other trade-based business, you need more than a handshake and a text message.

The Employment Agreement for Tradies is a downloadable legal template designed for Australian trade businesses that want a practical, easy-to-use employment agreement for tradies and trade-related employees.

It is written in plain English, but still includes the key legal protections employers need when bringing someone into the business.

This template is designed to help trade business owners set clear expectations around the employee’s role, hours, pay, award coverage, work locations, site rules, safety, tools, vehicles, PPE, confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, private jobs, client relationships and termination.

Who is this template for?

This employment agreement template is designed for Australian trade-based businesses that employ workers such as:

• tradies;

• labourers;

• technicians;

• installers;

• supervisors;

• maintenance workers;

• service technicians;

• construction workers;

• workshop employees;

• site-based workers; and

• other trade-related employees.

It may be suitable for businesses in industries such as building and construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping, carpentry, painting, roofing, tiling, concreting, property maintenance, mechanical trades and similar trade services.

What types of employment can it be adapted for?

The template is designed to be customisable for different employment arrangements, including:

• full-time employment;

• part-time employment;

• casual employment; and

• fixed-term employment.

The template includes a detailed schedule where the employer can insert the employee’s details, position, employment type, pay, superannuation, award details, award classification, ordinary hours, allowances, work location, duties, tools, PPE, mobile phone and vehicle arrangements.

What does the Employment Agreement for Tradies cover?

This template includes clauses dealing with:

• employment type;

• probation;

• duties and workplace expectations;

• place of work and client sites;

• hours of work, overtime and rosters;

• right to disconnect;

• pay and superannuation;

• allowances and expenses;

• leave and public holidays;

• policies and procedures;

• work health and safety;

• drugs, alcohol and fitness for work;

• licences, tickets and qualifications;

• driver licence and driving obligations;

• tools, equipment, PPE and employer property;

• mobile phones, devices and cyber security;

• workplace surveillance;

• confidential information;

• privacy;

• intellectual property;

• photos, videos and social media;

• conflicts of interest and outside work;

• private jobs, cash jobs and side jobs;

• training;

• employee warranties;

• deductions and set-off;

• termination by notice;

• serious misconduct and immediate termination;

• end-of-employment obligations;

• optional post-employment restraints;

• variations;

• notices;

• governing law; and

• key definitions.

Why tradie businesses need a proper employment agreement

A proper employment agreement helps reduce misunderstandings and protects the business by setting out the rules before problems arise.

For trade businesses, this is especially important because employees may have access to customer sites, tools, vehicles, pricing information, supplier contacts, client relationships, confidential business information, phones, apps, devices, job management systems and safety-sensitive work environments.

This template is designed to help employers deal with practical trade business issues, including:

• who provides the tools;

• who provides PPE;

• whether a vehicle is supplied;

• what licences or tickets are required;

• what happens if a licence is suspended or cancelled;

• expectations around timesheets and job sheets;

• safety and incident reporting;

• use of phones, apps and devices;

• client site conduct;

• private jobs and cash jobs;

• confidential information;

• workplace surveillance and GPS tracking; and

• returning property at the end of employment.

Important note about awards and minimum entitlements

This template must be customised before use.

Australian employers must still check the correct modern award, classification, minimum rates, allowances, overtime, penalty rates, superannuation, National Employment Standards, fixed-term rules, workplace surveillance laws and licensing requirements that apply to the role.

This template does not replace award compliance, payroll compliance or tailored legal advice.

What you receive

You receive a downloadable employment agreement template designed for Australian tradie businesses, including:

• a how-to guide;

• important information before use;

• a customisable employment agreement;

• a detailed schedule;

• optional restraint provisions;

• practical employer guidance notes; and

• plain-English clauses drafted for trade-based workplaces.

This template may suit you if you:

• are hiring your first tradie;

• are growing your trade business;

• want to move away from informal arrangements;

• need a written agreement for a new employee;

• employ workers across different sites;

• provide tools, vehicles, phones or PPE;

• want clear rules around private jobs and cash jobs;

• want to protect confidential information and client relationships; or

• want employment documents that are practical and easy to understand.

Disclaimer

Tradie Contract Co publishes legal templates and information for tradies. We are not acting as your lawyer when you buy, download or use this template.

This template provides general legal information only. It is not tailored legal advice for your specific business, employee, award, classification, worksite, industry or state or territory.

You should obtain legal advice if you are unsure whether this template is suitable for your business or if your business operates in a specialised, high-risk or heavily regulated area.