Fair Work Ombudsman warns against underpaying employees over Christmas

The Fair Work Ombudsman, Nicholas Wilson, has issued a timely reminder to employers to check pay rates and entitlements over the Christmas and New Year public holidays.

The warning comes following more than 800 complaints relating to the underpayment of public holiday penalty rates last financial year. Tens of thousands of dollars were recovered for hundreds of employees as a result of the FWO's investigation. 

According to Wilson, the main issue last year was employees being paid flat rates instead of the penalty rates to which they were entitled to under the public holiday award. In an interview with Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, he emphasized that employers must take note that penalty rates apply, and avoid the temptation to cut corners. Wilson also noted that the sectors with the worst problems were retail and hospitality, and other industries reliant on casual labour. 

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