--- title: How to Publish Award Versions description: The Publish step is the final step in your award configuration. From here you can publish your award live for payroll calculations, save it as a draft, or test your pay rules. --- [Skip to content](https://help.jointimecloud.com/how-to-publish-award-versions#main-content) [Contact us](https://help.jointimecloud.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Timecloud-Logo-600-2](https://help.jointimecloud.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Timecloud-Logo-600-2.png?width=200&height=40&name=Timecloud-Logo-600-2.png)](https://help.jointimecloud.com/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://help.jointimecloud.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to app.jointimecloud.com](https://app.jointimecloud.com/) [Go to app.jointimecloud.com](https://app.jointimecloud.com/) Got questions? Ask away - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Service Portal](https://help.jointimecloud.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Award Interpretation](https://help.jointimecloud.com/award-interpretation?hsLang=en) # How to Publish Award Versions ## The Publish step is the final step in your award configuration. From here you can publish your award live for payroll calculations, save it as a draft, or test your pay rules. Where to Find It 1. Go to **Settings** \> **Payroll Rules** and scroll to the **Pay Rules and Calculations** section. 2. Select or create an award, then navigate to the **Publish** step (Step 7 in the wizard). --- Setting an Effective Date When editing an award version, the **Effective Date** fields are always visible on the Publish step: - **Select Effective Date** — the date this version starts applying to timesheets. - **Select Valid Until Date** — optional end date (defaults to "Ongoing" if left blank). The effective date is only used when publishing and is not saved when saving as a draft. --- Adding a Version Comment Use the **Version Comment** field to describe what changed in this version. This helps your team track changes over time in the version history. --- Compliance Acknowledgement Before publishing, you must acknowledge the compliance warning by ticking the checkbox. This confirms that your organisation accepts responsibility for ensuring the award configuration complies with Fair Work regulations. If you attempt to publish without ticking the checkbox, you will see a prompt reminding you to accept the compliance warning first. --- Testing Before Publishing The Publish step includes a **Test Pay Rules** button that opens the testing tool. Use this to run sample timesheets through your configuration before going live. --- Publishing 1. Set the **Effective Date**. 2. Optionally set the **Valid Until Date**. 3. Add a **Version Comment**. 4. Tick the **compliance checkbox**. 5. Click the **Publish** button at the bottom of the step. The version is now live and will be used for all payroll calculations from the effective date. Once published, the version can no longer be edited. --- Saving as Draft - Click **Save as Draft** in the top-right header at any time — including from the Publish step. - The version remains editable and is **not** used for payroll calculations. - You can return to edit the draft at any time from the version history. --- Tips - **Always test first** — use Test Pay Rules to verify calculations before publishing live. - **Effective dates matter** — ensure the effective date covers the correct payroll period. - **One live version at a time** — publishing a new live version will take precedence from its effective date. - **Comments are helpful** — note what changed (e.g., "Updated overtime rates per 2024 Fair Work review"). --- Related Topics - **How to View Award Version History** — see all versions of an award - **How to Use the Test Bench** — test before publishing - **How to Create an Award** — start from the beginning - [Account & Security](https://help.jointimecloud.com/account-security?hsLang=en) - [Attendance & Timesheets](https://help.jointimecloud.com/attendance-timesheets?hsLang=en) - [Award Interpretation](https://help.jointimecloud.com/award-interpretation?hsLang=en) - [Biometric Scanners](https://help.jointimecloud.com/biometric-scanners?hsLang=en) - [Employees](https://help.jointimecloud.com/employees?hsLang=en) - [Forms & Checklists](https://help.jointimecloud.com/forms-checklists?hsLang=en) - [Geofencing](https://help.jointimecloud.com/geofencing?hsLang=en) - [Human Resources](https://help.jointimecloud.com/human-resources?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Organisation View](https://help.jointimecloud.com/human-resources?hsLang=en#organisation-view) - [Integrations](https://help.jointimecloud.com/integrations?hsLang=en) - [Job Tracking](https://help.jointimecloud.com/job-tracking?hsLang=en) - [Leave Management](https://help.jointimecloud.com/leave-management?hsLang=en) - [Mobile App](https://help.jointimecloud.com/mobile-app?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Kiosk](https://help.jointimecloud.com/mobile-app?hsLang=en#kiosk) - [Mobile App](https://help.jointimecloud.com/mobile-app?hsLang=en#mobile-app) - [Payroll](https://help.jointimecloud.com/payroll?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Xero](https://help.jointimecloud.com/payroll?hsLang=en#xero) - [iPayroll](https://help.jointimecloud.com/payroll?hsLang=en#ipayroll) - [MYOB](https://help.jointimecloud.com/payroll?hsLang=en#myob) - [Smartly](https://help.jointimecloud.com/payroll?hsLang=en#smartly) - [Reporting](https://help.jointimecloud.com/reporting?hsLang=en) - [Roster](https://help.jointimecloud.com/roster?hsLang=en) - [Settings](https://help.jointimecloud.com/settings?hsLang=en) - [Shifts](https://help.jointimecloud.com/shifts?hsLang=en) - [Time Clock](https://help.jointimecloud.com/time-clock?hsLang=en) - [Dashboard](https://help.jointimecloud.com/dashboard?hsLang=en) Service Desk Copyright © 2025, Timecloud Ltd