OIR can help

The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) provides information to employees and employers on workplace rights and responsibilities. OIR may also be able assist young workers who feel they may not be receiving the correct wages or entitlements.

 

If you have a workplace-related problem or a question, give OIR a call on 131 628 – if we can't help, we'll refer you to someone who can!

 

Is Your Deal for Real Enquiry Form 

 

 

Take control

 

If you think you're being underpaid or not receiving the correct entitlements (penalty rates, shift loadings etc.) – there are some steps you should take.

Step 1 - Discuss the matter with your employer – they may have made a genuine mistake and be happy to rectify the problem.

 

Step 2 - Contact OIR on 131 628 and talk to a customer service officer who can provide information about the pay rates and entitlements that you should be receiving. You can then discuss it with your employer again.

 

Step 3 - If this doesn't resolve the issue and you still feel you are being underpaid, fill in the OIR "Is Your Deal for Real Enquiry Form".

 

 

How OIR has helped some young workers

 

OIR has recovered over $4 million in underpayments for workers in the 2006/2007 financial year. Here are some examples of the recoveries that they have made on behalf of young workers:

  • Underpayments totalling $1,289 were recovered by OIR for a 16 year-old casual kitchen hand and a 17 year-old first year apprentice working at a South Coast restaurant due to non-payment of minimum shift provisions or weekend penalty rates.

  • $445 in wages recovered for a female junior shop assistant in Sydney's northern suburbs. She worked on a casual basis for seven weeks in a bakery. During that period she never received regular payments and was underpaid. The employer was a franchisee and had gone out of business. OIR investigated and the under payments were backpaid by the chain's head office.

  • Following an investigation by OIR, an apprentice builder received a cheque for covering the $7,907 in under-payments of tool allowance, travel allowance and overtime. The apprentice was very appreciative as he had just applied for a loan.

  • A university student working as a casual shop assistant at a North Coast co-operative received $352 for wages underpayments.

  • An 18 year-old male who worked as a casual employee at a pizzeria in Sydney's west was being underpaid the Award rate - after OIR has several lengthy discussions with the employer, $1,669 was paid directly to the employee.

 

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