$107,000 in back pay

TWENTY-SEVEN underpaid security officers in Melbourne’s South Eastern Suburbs were back-paid $107,000 after their employer was investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
According to an Australian Government media release, Fair Work inspectors found that the workers, all employed by the same company, were paid a flat rate that did not include weekend or shift penalty rates. The biggest individual underpayment was $12,400.
All workers have been reimbursed in full.
The Fair Work Ombudsman audited the business earlier this year as part of a national security industry campaign which recovered more than $677,000 for 803 staff.
Fair Work Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell say that, given the employer had co-operated and voluntarily rectified the matter, there will be no further action against the company.
“Our preference is to work with employers to educate and help them voluntarily rectify any non-compliance issues,” he said.
Mr Campbell said an agreement to pay workers a flat rate, even if it is above the minimum hourly rate in the Award, did not necessarily negate the need to pay workers their full penalty rates for overtime, night and weekend work.