Employees in Ballarat have through the Fair Work Ombudsman been back-paid over $53,000 after an FWO ombudsman investigation found they had been underpaid.
Four employees of a Ballarat hotel were found to be paid less than their minimum hourly rate and not paid penalty rates were reimbursed ammounts of $7400, $5500, $4500 and $2600 after the Fair Work Ombudsman inspectors contacted the employer.
Separately, a Ballarat technician was voluntarily back-paid more than $12,100 after he lodged a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman that he was underpaid accrued annual leave and long service leave entitlements.
Inspectors discovered the underpayments through a combination of routine audits in the Ballarat region and investigations into complaints from workers.
Common non-compliance issues encountered by inspectors include underpayment of hourly and penalty rates, annual leave and long service leave entitlements.
Additional recoveries include:
- $7500 for a Ballarat office manager underpaid wages and accrued annual leave entitlements
- $7300 for a Ballarat bar attendant underpaid the minimum hourly rate, and
- $6400 for a Ballarat administration officer underpaid the minimum hourly rate.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the Agency places a strong focus on educating and assisting employers to understand and comply with workplace laws.
