The Albanese government’s review into potentially expanding the number of small businesses exempt from workplace obligations has opted to make no recommendations, sparking outrage from employers who branded it a whitewash.

The long-awaited Fair Work Ombudsman report, released on Wednesday following a six-month extension, passed the buck to the government after finding “divergent views” meant it could not conclude whether to lift the Fair Work Act’s definition of small business from fewer than 15 employees.