Payroll Compliance

Two professionals shaking hands in a modern office while discussing employment terms and pay arrangements.

Loaded pay rates: a tempting handshake that can land you in serious trouble

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At a franchisor presentation last night, a franchisee asked me a question that I suspect plays out in workplaces across Australia every single day.  A promising candidate negotiates a higher hourly rate. The employer agrees — and to keep things simple, says the rate also covers the tool allowance and annual leave loading. Everyone shakes […]

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Three business professionals collaborating in a modern office meeting with laptops, documents, and financial reports on the table.

What Employers Need to Know About the FY26/27 Australian Federal Budget (A practical briefing from Harrisons for Australian employers )

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The 2026–27 Federal Budget was handed down on 12 May 2026, and while much of the headline commentary focused on tax cuts and cost-of-living relief, there is a lot in this Budget that Australian employers need to be thinking about right now.  This is not a Budget of broad incentives. It is a Budget of

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Two business professionals reviewing workplace compliance documents in a modern office ahead of major Australian employment law changes taking effect on 1 July 2026.

What’s changing on 1 July 2026 — and what to do about it before it lands

Compliance, Uncategorized /

Every July brings a wave of workplace law changes. Most years you can absorb them with a payroll update and a quick policy review. 2026 is not that year.  The changes landing on 1 July 2026 are structural — not cosmetic. They alter how super is paid, how parental leave is funded, what counts as

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Underpayments and record-keeping compliance risks for Australian employers under Fair Work laws

Underpayments and Record-Keeping in Australia: What Recent Fair Work Cases Mean for Employers

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Recent Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) enforcement action highlights a clear and growing risk for employers: underpayments and poor record keeping in Australia remain some of the most common — and costly — compliance failures. Across multiple Federal Court outcomes in December 2025, businesses were penalised for breaches involving wages, payslips, and employment records. These cases

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Fair Work Crackdown on Migrant Worker Breaches: Key Lessons for Employers

Fair Work Crackdown on Migrant Worker Breaches: What Recent Cases Mean for Employers

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Recent enforcement action by the Fair Work Ombudsman highlights a clear regulatory focus: protecting migrant workers and addressing workplace underpayments. In December 2025 alone, the regulator announced legal action and penalties across several industries — including agriculture, financial services and transport. While the circumstances differ, the underlying message is consistent: employers must ensure migrant workers

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A landmark Federal Court decision reshapes BOOT compliance, annualised salaries and offset clauses. Here’s what Australian employers must review now.

The New “Pay-Period” BOOT: What the Landmark Ruling Means for Employers

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A recent Federal Court decision has fundamentally changed how Australian employers must think about annualised salaries, offset clauses and the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT). Often referred to as the “pay period boundary” ruling, this decision has wide ranging implications for payroll, HR, employment contracts and record keeping practices across all industries — not just

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