One northern rivers worker has received back pay of more than $30,000 following a recent intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The former manager of a business in Roseberry, north of Kyogle, was underpaid long service and annual leave entitlements to the value of $32,600 when his employment was terminated last year.
Acting fair work ombudsman, Michael Campbell, said it was one of several recent cases of underpayment of termination entitlements in northern NSW.
‘It is important that employees are paid their full lawful entitlements when they leave a job because these entitlements provide the safety net workers need while they look for new employment and get back on their feet,’ Mr Campbell said.
A number employees in the region, who discovered their termination pay was less than it should have been, have also received back pay, including: $10,800 for a tradesman at Kyogle; $9,900 for a worker at a Grafton food retail business; $7,900 for a Maclean hospitality worker; $7,100 for a salesman at Ballina; and $5,200 for a Lismore retail manager.
A Lismore cleaner received $5,000 for underpaid wages between 2011 and 2012.
In all cases, after Fair Work inspectors contacted the businesses and explained their obligations the employees were reimbursed all money owed without the need for further action against the employer.
Mr Campbell said when Fair Work inspectors identify a problem and contact a business, most employers check their records, realise a problem has occurred, and fix it immediately.
‘When we find mistakes, we’re here to assist and give practical advice to employers on how to voluntarily resolve issues,’ he said.
‘These businesses have now corrected the errors that led to the underpayments and put processes in place to ensure they will not happen again.’
Last financial year the Fair Work Ombudsman recovered just over $17.4 million in back-pay for 5066 workers in NSW and ACT.
Employers and employees seeking information and advice should visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Infoline on 13 13 94.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
