Cairns Tourism Operator Back-pays Manager $24k After Watchdog Intervenes

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16th November 2009, 12:20pm - Views: 965





People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 1 image

People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 2 image


Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 



Media Release




         16 Nov 2009


Cairns tourism operator back-pays manager

$24,000 after watchdog intervenes


A

Cairns tourism operator has back-paid one of its staff $24,000 after an

investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman found the worker was underpaid.


The employee lodged a complaint after leaving his job but was not paid his

accrued annual leave entitlements.


After Fair Work inspectors contacted the employer, the employee was promptly

reimbursed without the need for further action against the company.


In a separate case, the general manager of a Cairns industrial business has also

been back-paid $9350 after an investigation by Fair Work inspectors.


The manager had been underpaid his accrued annual leave entitlements when he

finished working for his employer. The employer also voluntarily reimbursed the

money after being contacted by inspectors.  


The recoveries are among several cases resolved recently on behalf of workers in

the Cairns area.


Inspectors discovered the underpayments through a combination of routine audits

and investigations into complaints from workers.


Fair Work Ombudsman Queensland Director Julie Wade says most of the

underpayments resulted from a lack of understanding by employers of their legal

obligations, including applicable Awards and pay-scales.


“That’s why the Fair Work Ombudsman places such a strong focus on educating

employers and assisting them to understand and comply with workplace laws,”

she said.


Ms Wade says in most cases, the Fair Work Ombudsman does not prosecute

employers for inadvertent breaches of workplace laws.


“However, employers need to be aware that they can face fines of up $33,000 per

breach if we do take matters to court,” she said.


“Most of the $70 million we have recovered for 54,000 workers throughout

Australia over the past two years has been recouped without resorting to

litigation.”


Ms Wade says employers or employees seeking up-to-date information on wage

rates and conditions should visit www.fwo.gov.au or contact the Fair Work

Infoline on 13 13 94. Translations are available by calling 13 14 50.

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People Feature Fair Work Ombudsman 3 image






Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 


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“The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website also includes information and templates to

help employers better manage employment records and payslips,” she said.


“Employers need to be aware that under Commonwealth workplace laws they

must keep accurate time, wages, annual leave and other employment records

and issue sufficiently detailed payslips.”


Eleven Best Practice Guides have been developed by the Fair Work Ombudsman

to assist employers make better use of the provisions of the Fair Work Act and

better understand other aspects of workplace laws.


The new guides are on the website and cover work and family, consultation and

co-operation, individual flexibility arrangements, employing young workers,

gender pay equity, small business, workplace privacy, managing

underperformance, effective dispute resolution and improving workplace

productivity in bargaining. 


The Fair Work Ombudsman promotes harmonious, productive and co-operative

workplaces. It also monitors compliance and investigates breaches of national

workplace laws.


NOTE: We are unable to identify individual businesses or provide additional

information about the cases mentioned.





Media inquiries: 


Craig Bildstien, Director Media & Stakeholder Relations. 0419 818 484.

craig.bildstien@fwo.gov.au


Ryan Pedler, Senior Adviser Media & Stakeholder Relations. (03) 9954

2561, 0434 365 924. ryan.pedler@fwo.gov.au














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