The Australian Fairwork Ombudsman has recovered A$509 million in underpayments to workers in the 2022/23 period.
You Should Care Because: The regulator actively prioritizes corporates and universities to guarantee that workers receive proper payment in accordance with Australian workplace laws and Awards. This includes initiating legal action to retrieve wages and penalties.
HR Policy Global’s Take: To avoid enforceable undertakings, fines, and negative publicity, all corporations with operations in Australia must continuously review their employee’s job roles, entitlements, HR technology and relevant Modern Awards to ensure correct payment of wages and allowances.
The big picture: The Ombudsman is prepared to investigate companies' methodologies for settling back payments, including lawsuits.
What's next: The Ombudsman will continue to name and hold accountable organizations that contravene regulations.