Tag: wage theft

HR’s role in preventing and responding to underpayments

Preventing underpayments requires more than a functional payroll system – it’s about joining the dots between people, payroll and processes.

6 Australian employment law trends to stay across in 2025

After two years of significant legislative changes, 2025 will likely be about putting these changes into practice and ensuring compliance. An employment lawyer shares what HR practitioners need to prioritise.

Is your organisation prepared for the new wage theft laws?

New wage theft laws criminalising intentional underpayments have now come into effect. A legal expert explains what HR needs to know to maintain compliance with the new legislation.

5 ways employers could accidentally underpay their employees

With wage theft in the spotlight, carefully monitoring payroll compliance is more critical than ever. Here are five ways accidental underpayments can occur, and how to prevent errors like these slipping through the cracks.

Employer ordered to pay $4 million in penalties for “calculated” wage theft

The Federal Court has imposed over $4 million in penalties against an employer for “deceitful and unscrupulous” wage theft. With the criminalisation of wage theft looming, now is the time to put legal safeguards in place to reduce underpayment risks.

Closing Loopholes Bill: new tranche of industrial relations changes coming in 2024

Employers who intentionally underpay staff (including superannuation) could soon face criminal sanctions. Here’s what else HR needs to know about the Closing Loopholes Bill.

The average employee works 7 weeks of unpaid overtime annually

New research has revealed that unpaid overtime represents 17 per cent of total working hours among Australian employees. With stricter wage theft laws on the horizon, how can employers ensure their overtime policies are compliant?

IR update: Jail time for wage theft included in ‘Closing Loopholes Bill’

Criminalising wage theft and industrial manslaughter, and stronger protections for gig economy workers. Here are the big-ticket items in the government’s Closing Loopholes Bill.

How can HR help to rectify and prevent employee underpayments?

Amid criminal prosecutions, million-dollar fines and high-profile court cases, employee underpayments are firmly in the spotlight. Organisations now have to ensure their payroll operations stand up to scrutiny – or face the consequences.

Australian universities owe over $100 million in unpaid wages, finds report

A recent report has uncovered millions of dollars’ worth of underpayments at public universities over the last three years. The research indicates that wage theft has become “an endemic part of universities’ business models”.