Fair Work Ombudsman warns Maroondah bosses not to underpay
INVESTIGATIONS into employees being severely underpaid at Maroondah workplaces have uncovered numerous breaches, with one woman deprived of nearly $19,000.
Natalie James, Fair Work Ombudsman ( Pic : Fair Work)
A series of Fair Work Ombudsman investigations across Melbourne’s east has resulted in reimbursements for 19 Maroondah employees.
In one case, a property manager in Ringwood East was repaid $18,900 after it was found her casual loading entitlements had been underpaid for four years.
Workers at a bakery in Croydon were found to have been paid less than the minimum hourly rate and the weekend penalty rate for two years. The 17 shop assistants received a share of $6200 in unpaid wages.
A Mooroolbark phone consultant received $19,000 after an investigation found the consultant was not paid for specific hours.
Elsewhere in the east, the ombudsman recovered $24,300 for 18 workers at a Camberwell cafe, $13,100 for employees at a Hawthorn cleaning business and $18,000 for workers at an East Melbourne apartment.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the cases highlighted the need for diligence by employers when it came to understanding the wages and entitlements applicable to their workplace.
“It is important employers are fully aware of their responsibilities, otherwise they can end up facing back-payment bills they weren’t budgeting for,” Ms James said.
The latest cases of underpayments in Maroondah follow a series of investigations by Fair Work in 2014.
Earlier this year, the former operator of a Bayswater electrical manufacturing business was fined after it was found it had underpaid an immigrant worker more than $20,000.
In another case a 24-year-old student employed at Muffin Break had been paid a flat hourly rate as low as $10.
Employers and employees seeking advice are encouraged to visit the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website at fairwork.gov.au, or call the Infoline on 13 13 94
Source : Maroondah Leader Thomas O'Byrne December 15th 2014
