Employment Agreements
Employment agreements define the wage structures, benefit rates, and pay rules for different groups of workers. In a unionized environment, these map directly to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) negotiated between unions and employer associations. Appello supports multiple concurrent agreements — each with its own wage table, overtime rules, and effective date ranges.
Navigation
Sidebar → Settings → Human Resources → Agreements tab
URL: /settings/human-resources → Agreements tab
Overview
The Agreements tab lists all configured employment agreements. Each agreement contains a wage table with rates for every trade classification, benefit and burden calculations, and effective date versioning.
Understanding Employment Agreements
Most ICI trade contractors operate under multiple employment agreements simultaneously:
| Agreement Type | Example | Who It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Union CBA | Local 95 Collective Bargaining Agreement | All heat and frost insulation workers dispatched through Local 95 halls |
| Sheet Metal CBA | Local 473 Sheet Metal Workers | Sheet metal workers under a different local |
| Multi-trade CBA | SMWIA Local 30 Sheet Metal (Toronto) | Workers under Toronto sheet metal jurisdiction |
| Non-union | Office & Shop Employment Agreement | Office staff, shop workers, and non-union field personnel |
Why Multiple Agreements Matter
A mechanical insulation contractor might have:
- Union insulators paid under the Local 95 CBA ($45–$58/hour base + benefits)
- Sheet metal workers paid under Local 473 rates ($42–$55/hour base + benefits)
- Office staff paid under a company employment agreement (salary or hourly)
- Shop workers paid under a separate shop agreement
Each agreement has different wage scales, OT rules, benefit rates, and pension contributions. Appello tracks all of this natively.
Creating an Employment Agreement
Click Add Agreement to create a new agreement.
Required Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Descriptive name (e.g., "Local 95 Collective Bargaining Agreement") |
Agreement Contracts (Wage Tables)
Each agreement contains one or more contracts — versioned wage tables with effective date ranges. When a new CBA is ratified, you add a new contract with updated rates rather than modifying the existing one. This preserves historical payroll records.
Creating a Contract
Within an agreement, click Add Contract to create a wage table.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Version identifier (e.g., "2025-2028 CBA Rates") |
| Effective Date | When these rates take effect |
| Expiry Date | When these rates expire (next negotiation) |
Wage Table Structure
Each contract contains rate entries for every trade classification:
| Trade Level | Base Rate | Vacation Pay | Benefits | Pension | Total Burdened Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | $58.50 | $5.85 | $8.20 | $6.50 | $79.05 |
| Foreman | $52.00 | $5.20 | $8.20 | $6.50 | $71.90 |
| Journeyman Mechanic | $45.00 | $4.50 | $8.20 | $6.50 | $64.20 |
| Apprentice 4th Year (80%) | $36.00 | $3.60 | $8.20 | $5.20 | $53.00 |
| Apprentice 3rd Year (70%) | $31.50 | $3.15 | $8.20 | $4.55 | $47.40 |
| Apprentice 2nd Year (60%) | $27.00 | $2.70 | $8.20 | $3.90 | $41.80 |
| Apprentice 1st Year (50%) | $22.50 | $2.25 | $8.20 | $3.25 | $36.20 |
| Probationary | $22.50 | $2.25 | $8.20 | $3.25 | $36.20 |
Apprentice rates are typically calculated as a percentage of the Journeyman rate — this mirrors how CBAs define apprentice progression. Appello lets you set each rate independently to handle exceptions.
Overtime Rules
Agreements define overtime calculation rules:
| Rule | Typical CBA Setting |
|---|---|
| Daily OT threshold | After 8 hours |
| Weekly OT threshold | After 40 hours |
| OT multiplier | 1.5× (time and a half) |
| Double-time threshold | After 10 hours daily, or Sundays/holidays |
| Shift differential | Afternoon shift +$2.00/hr, Night shift +$3.00/hr |
How Agreements Connect to Other Features
| Feature | How Agreements Are Used |
|---|---|
| Timesheets | Worker's agreement determines which wage table applies to their hours |
| Bulk Crew Entry | Foremen enter crew time; the system auto-calculates costs using each worker's agreement rates |
| Payroll Export | Exports include agreement-specific rates, union dues, pension, and benefit deductions |
| Job Costing | Labour costs on jobs are calculated using burdened rates from the applicable agreement |
| Travel Rate Cards | Each agreement links to its own travel rate card for per-diem and mileage rules |
Version History
When a new CBA is negotiated:
- Open the existing agreement.
- Click Add Contract to create a new version.
- Set the new effective date (e.g., May 1, 2026).
- Enter the updated wage rates.
- The previous contract remains for historical reference — timesheets before the effective date continue to use the old rates.
This versioning ensures accurate retroactive payroll and audit compliance.
Related Pages
- Union Hall Management — Configure the union halls linked to agreements
- Human Resources Settings — Overview of all HR configuration tabs
No competing construction platform offers multi-version employment agreement management with CBA wage tables. This is typically tracked in spreadsheets or disconnected HR systems.