Fair Work Ombudsman forces fast-food outlets to repay $310,000 to ripped off workers

The Fair Work Ombudsman has forced several fast-food outlets in Adelaide’s western suburbs to repay thousands to ripped off workers. See where and how much.

More than $310,000 ripped off from 370 workers in fast food outlets across Adelaide western suburbs has been recovered after an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said 36 “cheap eats” locations had been investigated in Bowden, Croydon, Allenby Gardens, Woodville, Grange and Flinders Park.

“These disappointing findings in Adelaide’s western suburbs are part of a national Food Precincts Program where we’ve often found that low-cost dining comes at the expense of workers’ lawful wages,” Ms Booth said.

Anna Booth is the new Fair Work Ombudsman. Picture: Paul Hermes

“Employers must follow all wage laws, including penalty rates, which generally serve as compensation for those working at times when most people are not. Those doing the wrong thing are being found out and held to account.’’

The Ombudsman said the largest amount repaid was $65,986 to 10 restaurant employees who were cooks, kitchen hands and waiters. They had been underpaid both penalty and minimum wage rates,

That business was also issued with an infringement notice related to record keeping and pay slip breaches.

The Ombudsman said it had issued 26 compliance notices, which recovered $272,999 for 332 workers. The remainder of the money was repaid voluntarily by the restaurants.

Fines totalling $103,156 were also collected from nine fast-food venues, with another three still under investigation.

The Ombudsman said 33 investigations had been completed, which found 26 businesses had broken workplace laws. It said the most common breach had been a failure to pay penalty rates, with 25 businesses falling foul of the law. Twenty businesses were found to have paid below the minimum wage, while eight businesses had record-keeping and pay slip irregularities.

Ms Booth said some of the information that led to businesses being investigated had come from anonymous sources and she urged anyone with information to contact the Ombudsman’s office.

“We also urge workers with concerns about wages and entitlements to reach out to us – including anonymously if preferred,’’ she said.

Originally published as Fair Work Ombudsman forces fast-food outlets to repay $310,000 to ripped off workers