Northern NSW worker back-paid $32,000

A worker in Northern NSW has been back-paid $32,600 following recent intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The worker, a manager at a Roseberry business, was underpaid long service and annual leave entitlements upon termination of employment in 2012.

Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell, said it was one of several recent cases of underpayment of termination entitlements in Northern NSW.

“It is important that employees are paid their full lawful entitlements when they leave a job because these entitlements provide the safety net workers need while they look for new employment and get back on their feet,” Mr Campbell said.

Other recent recoveries in the region include:

• $10,800 for a tradesman at Kyogle underpaid payment in lieu of notice, redundancy entitlements, annual leave and long service leave upon termination of employment,
• $9,900 for a worker at a Grafton food retail business underpaid redundancy entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $7,900 for a Maclean hospitality worker underpaid annual leave entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $7,100 for a salesman at Ballina underpaid long service leave entitlements upon termination of employment,
• $5,200 for a Lismore retail manager underpaid redundancy entitlements upon termination of employment, and
• $5,000 for a cleaner at Lismore underpaid wages between 2011 and 2012.

In all cases, after Fair Work inspectors contacted the businesses and explained their obligations the employees were reimbursed all money owed without the need for further action against the employer.

Mr Campbell said when Fair Work inspectors identify a problem and contact a business, most employers check their records, realise a problem has occurred, and fix it immediately.

“When we find mistakes, we’re here to assist and give practical advice to employers on how to voluntarily resolve issues,” he said.

“These businesses have now corrected the errors that led to the underpayments and put processes in place to ensure they will not happen again.”
     
Last financial year the Fair Work Ombudsman recovered just over $17.4 million in back-pay for 5066 workers in NSW and ACT.

Employers and employees seeking information and advice should visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Infoline on 13 13 94.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, 10 April 2013