HUNDREDS of Victorian workers are sharing in a Christmas pay windfall worth $1.5 million after a blitz on stingy employers.
One manager in South Melbourne has received a whopping $36,000 for unpaid leave while a South Yarra carpark attendant has been given backpay worth $28,900 to make up for not getting the correct penalty rates and allowances.
Inspectors from the office of the Fair Work Ombudsman have uncovered the pay bungles through audits over the past three months and by investigating complaints.
In most cases employers had made a genuine mistake and did not understand their legal obligations. They co-operated to pay workers the money owed.
For some workers, the amounts involved have been worth many months' salary.
A Bentleigh retail employee, Nunawading manufacturing worker, Scoresby sales manager, Langwarrin construction worker, Frankston health professional, Prahran administration assistant and Bacchus Marsh labourer and driver have all received at least $20,000 in extra wages and allowances.
The state-wide blitz found an 18-year-old Moe childcare worker was under-paid $16,500 because her employer did not increase her pay as required when she gained higher childcare qualifications.
A Preston receptionist was granted an extra $18,400 after it was discovered she had not been paid the correct hourly wage, public holiday rates or annual leave.
A City cleaner has swept up $15,500 in previously unpaid penalty rates, allowances and annual leave while a Richmond barman has been served an extra $5400 to make up for being short changed on his hourly wage and penalty rates.
Fair Work Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell said most cases the employers did not understand their legal obligations.
He urged employers, especially small businesses, to check they were paying staff the correct minimum rates of pay and allowances.
'''The best advice I can give to business operators is to get the basics right and everything else should start to fall into place,'''” he said.
'''By the basics I mean knowing what award applies to your employees, the correct classification and pay rates.''''
Inspectors won $19,800 for a Bass Coast sales assistant, $15,000 for a Kyneton apprentice, $9500 for a Coburg delivery driver, $5800 for a Geelong apprentice butcher, $13,000 for a Woodend cleaner and $18,800 for a Collingwood retail worker.
Employers and employees can find out correct rates of pay and other information at www.fairwork.gov.au
INDIVIDUAL PAYOUTS:
* $36,000 - South Melbourne manager not paid personal leave or long service.
* $28,900 - South Yarra car park attendant underpaid penalty rate and allowances.
*$27,900 - Bentleigh retail worker underpaid annual leave, long service leave and superannuation.
* $26,600 - Nunawading manufacturing worker under paid annual leave, personal leave and severance pay.
* $24,600 - Scoresby sales manager not paid severance pay on termination.
* $24,000 - Langwarrin construction worker underpaid minimum hourly rate, penalty rates, annual leave.
* $21,900 - Frankston health professional not paid wages in lieu of notice, sick leave, annual leave or long service leave.
* $20,000 - Prahran administration assistant underpaid hourly rate and penalty rates.
* $20,000 - Bacchus March labourer and driver underpaid personal leave and public holiday entitlements.
* $19,800 - Bass Coast sales assistant underpaid penalty rates, annual leave, long service leave.
* $18,800 - Collingwood retail worker not paid minimum hourly rate.
* $18,400 - Preston receptionist not paid minimum hourly rate, public holiday rates or annual leave.
* $17,900 - Wodonga transport worker underpaid shift, weekend, overtime and public holiday penalty rates and meal allowance.
* $16,500 - Moe childcare worker underpaid hourly rate.
* $16,200 - Camberwell surveyor underpaid sick leave.
* $15,500 - City cleaner not paid minimum hourly rate, penalty rates, allowances, annual leave or leave loading.
* $15,300 - Southbank apprentice not paid penalty rates.
* $15,000 - Kyneton apprentice underpaid hourly rate.
* $14,500 - Bayswater North truck driver not paid overtime or wages in lieu of notice.
* $14,400 - Hallam office manager not paid annual leave and long service leave.
* $13,700 - Point Cook sales assistant underpaid hourly rate and penalty rates.
* $13,100 - Lara transport worker not paid overtime.
* $13,000 - Woodend cleaner underpaid.
* $12,100 - West Melbourne salesman for annual leave.
* $12,000 - Caulfield South printer underpaid hourly rate.
* $11,800 - South Melbourne telecommunications worker not paid wages or annual leave on termination.*
$10,700 - City salesperson underpaid hourly rate, penalty rate, annual leave.
* $10,100 - Shepparton transport worker not paid penalty rates or meal allowance for overtime.
* $9500 - Coburg delivery driver underpaid wages.
* $9200 - Altona truck driver underpaid allowances.
* $8900 - Wodonga health and fitness worker not paid for all hours worked.
* $8600 - Clayton child care worker not paid redundan
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A Pay Windfall After Blitz On Stingy Employers. (Read 426 times)
