The Fair Work Ombudsman, a Division of Fair Work Australia, is charged with the task of ensuring compliance with Industrial Instruments – including Awards and Agreements. They carry out this function by investigating complaints or suspected contraventions of workplace laws, awards and agreements. This can occur by random inspections. If you are found to have underpaid staff you will be required to pay the money back or the Fair Work Ombudsman will litigate to enforce payment and impose fines up to $33,000 per breach. The best defence is to know up front what your obligations are, to build this into your labour cost and recover that amount via the fee you charge for your services. Contact IR Assist on
1300 393 519 or e:
info@irassist.com.au for a compliance audit to make sure you are paying correctly and avoid costly backpay.