Campaign of “obfuscation” results in $84,500 penalty for Gold Coast restaurant

The operators of a Gold Coast restaurant have been fined a total of $84,500 after engaging in a campaign of “obfuscation” aimed at avoiding having to back-pay nine employees who had been short-changed almost $17,000.

Gold Coast workers back-paid $111,000

Dozens of workers on Queensland’s Gold Coast have shared more than $111,000 back-pay after recent inquiries by the Fair Work Ombudsman revealed they had been underpaid.

$10,500 back-pay for Japanese backpackers

Three Japanese backpackers who worked at a café in Sydney have been reimbursed a total of $10,500 after the Fair Work Ombudsman found they had been underpaid.

Spotlight on Loddon, Campaspe and Elmore

The Fair Work Ombudsman will visit Victoria’s Loddon and Campaspe shires and the Elmore region next week to help raise awareness among employers of their obligations under federal workplace laws.

Adelaide businesses face court over alleged workplace breaches involving 457 visa-holders

In an Australian first, two Adelaide businesses will face court after refusing to pay on-the-spot fines for their alleged failure to regularly issue payslips to overseas workers recruited from China and India.

Employers urged to check wage rates after 53 Darwin cleaners underpaid $84,000

Dozens of cleaners in Darwin have been underpaid tens of thousands of dollars, spot checks by the Fair Work Ombudsman have found.

Lack of co-operation results in legal action

A Sydney business will face court for failing to co-operate with the Fair Work Ombudsman after it received a complaint from an employee.

Mediation helps resolve workplace disputes early

Fair Work Ombudsman mediators are helping more employees and employers to resolve their workplace disputes voluntarily.

Court action over failure to pay compensation

A Melbourne business is facing Court for allegedly ignoring a Fair Work Commission order to compensate an employee who had been unfairly dismissed.

Sushi bar reimburses Korean backpacker, revamps workplace practices after $5000 underpayment

The operator of a sushi bar paid her staff a “market rate” after doing a ring-around of her competitors to find out what they were paying their employees.