- If you are paid in cash, check your pay slip to make sure you have received your minimum legal entitlements and that tax has been taken out of your pay. ‘Cash in hand’ is a term used to describe when you are paid in cash without tax being taken from your earnings. Being paid ‘cash in hand’ is against the law.
- Independent contracting is where one business does work for another business. Generally an independent contractor would be asked for their Australian Business Number (ABN) in order to be paid. Some employers disguise employment relationships as independent contracting to avoid paying minimum rates and tax or honouring conditions like annual leave and sick leave. This is called ‘sham contracting’ and it is against the law.
- Your employment can’t be terminated for asking your employer about your pay and entitlements, or for contacting the Fair Work Ombudsman.
- It is illegal for anyone to discriminate against you at work, or when you are seeking work, for reasons including your race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family or carer’s responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.
- It is not okay for you to be dismissed because you are temporarily absent from work because of illness or injury.
- Your employer cannot put undue pressure or use undue influence to get you to sign an agreement or agree to certain arrangements.
If you feel like any of these things are happening to you, you can contact us immediately.