My business is too small to worry about.
Many business owners believe workplace audits only happen to large corporations. We often notice this “it won’t happen to me” attitude when we discuss employee entitlements. However, ignoring these rules is a dangerous gamble.
We want to keep your staff happy and your business out of legal trouble. To help, we are sharing recent cases from the Fair Work Ombudsman July 2021 media releases. These examples prove that Fair Work compliance for small business is a critical priority.
In every case below, the regulator took action against the Sole Trader or Sole Director personally.
The Real Cost of Underpayment
Case 1: Queensland Furniture Removalist
A small removalist business underpaid its staff. Consequently, a Fair Work Inspector issued two Compliance Notices. The owner failed to act on these notices. Now, the matter is in court. The owner faces fines of $6,660 per failure.
Case 2: Local Plumbing Business
A young worker queried their pay rate with the FWO. This led to a compliance notice for the plumbing business operator. Because the owner ignored the notice, they now face court action and significant fines.
Case 3: Beauty Salon Penalties
A beauty business failed to pay minimum wages and annual leave. The company now faces fines of up to $33,300 per breach. Additionally, the Sole Director faces personal penalties of up to $6,300.
Ensuring Fair Work Compliance for Small Business Owners
These cases show that small businesses are not invisible to regulators. Law often changes quickly. You might break a rule without even knowing it. However, ignorance is not a legal defense.
At Assurance HR, we help you maintain total compliance. We manage everything from hiring new staff to legal dismissals. We ensure your business follows every necessary step to stay safe.
