Aussie job hunters have bemoaned a tactic that recruiters are using to make jobs appear more appealing than they actually are.
One job seeker took to the AusFinance subreddit to question why recruiters keep listing aspects of a workers’ remuneration package they are legally required to offer employees, such as paid annual leave or mandatory superannuation, as “benefits”.
“Currently mass-applying for roles since my position’s being made redundant,” the user wrote on Reddit last week.
“Why do recruiters and talent acquisition people keep saying things like ‘we offer four weeks annual leave and contribute to superannuation’ as if they’re handing out some golden benefit?
“That’s literally a legal requirement, not a perk. Stop advertising compliance with employment law like it’s a selling point.”
A fellow user, who said they were a former human resources worker, pointed out that this practice happens because it looks better to younger applicants and those from overseas who may not be aware of Australian workplace rights.
“(They’re) essentially gaslighting them into applying to you over other places because of ‘benefits’,” the user wrote.
Another suggested there should be standardised job ads format that features a section showing all job benefits, entitlements and parts of the workers’ compensation.
Other users took aim at the practice, arguing it was a sign of a bad job while others spoke of their own negative experiences with job seeking.
“They know the role is dogs**t paying award wage and no actual benefits,” one Reddit user wrote.
“It also attracts international applicants or young people who don’t realise it.”
Another said: “I worked in a job that advertised my position as above award wage. It was 3c above. Technically correct I guess.”
One added: “Most of them have nothing else to offer, so they just rebrand legal obligations as perks. Seen it too many times.”
While there are no laws saying that employers can not list things such as annual leave or superannuation as “benefits”, there are a range of requirements they need to meet.
Workplaces must not mislead workers about how much they will be paid or their employment type – such as whether they work full-time or earn commission in the role.
They can also find themselves in hot water if the employer leaves out key information, including its location and the nature of the job, on the job ad.
Employers can face penalties of up to $1.1 million if they mislead job seekers in their ads.