ARTICLE · 29 APRIL 2007

Employee Entitlements - Are Your Employees Getting Enough?

HopgoodGanim

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Recent cases show how important it is that employers pay their employees their proper entitlements, whether under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, an Award, certified or collective agreement or Australian Workplace Agreement. With the Office of Workplace Services (OWS) actively campaigning and targeting particular industries, there is no better time for employers to 'review the books' and ensure that they are paying all employees their lawful entitlements.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Janine Oberhardt

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Recent cases show how important it is that employers pay their employees their proper entitlements, whether under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, an Award, certified or collective agreement or Australian Workplace Agreement. With the Office of Workplace Services (OWS) actively campaigning and targeting particular industries, there is no better time for employers to 'review the books' and ensure that they are paying all employees their lawful entitlements. Getting it wrong can be very costly.

The Office of Workplace Services

The OWS was established last year as part of the Work Choices reforms. It is an independent body whose main functions include ensuring and enforcing compliance with the provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) (WRA) and, when appropriate, prosecuting companies found to be in breach of their obligations. The penalties for breaching the provisions of the WRA are substantial, with companies facing fines of up to $33,000.00 per breach.

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