Underpayments

Featured image showing a calculator, financial documents, and payroll calculations, representing annualised salaries, set-off arrangements, payroll compliance, and employee wage entitlements under Australian employment law.

The Salary Trap: What the Coles and Woolworths Decision Means for Annualised Salaries and Set-Off Arrangements

If you pay an annual salary to award-covered staff, the Coles and Woolworths underpayment decision should be on your radar. Paying a generous salary that “washes out” over a year is no longer enough: a set-off must satisfy award entitlements in each pay period — not on average across the year. That point redraws the compliance map for Australian […]

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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

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

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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