Griffith University commits to pay back more than $8m to underpaid staff

The university underpaid thousands of staff in the past decade, and it is not the only institution to do so.

Griffith University has signed a deal committing to repay underpaid staff more than $8m, becoming the sixth university to do so since 2022.

Since 2015, the university underpaid 5457 staff across all of its six campuses, including academics, support and fitness workers – one who was underpaid as much as $92,400.

It has signed an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman, meaning it will be required to repay $8.34m including interest and superannuation.

It is the sixth university to enter such a deal with Fair Work following The University of Melbourne, which last year agreed to pay back a mammoth $72m after a decade of wage theft.

Since 2022, it has been a Fair Work priority to crack down on systemic underpayments in the university sector, with Latrobe University, The University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Newcastle and Charles Sturt University all signing similar agreements.

Individual underpayments ranged as high as $92,400. Picture: NewsWire/ Richard Gosling

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth commended Griffith University for self-reporting its breaches and its co-operation with the ombudsman’s investigation.

“The matter serves as a warning of the significant long-running problems that can result from an employer failing to have appropriate checks and balances to ensure workplace compliance,” said Ms Booth.

“We expect universities to meet their legal obligations under their own enterprise agreements and underlying awards.”

Griffith’s failed to pay staff for activities including academic tutorials, subject co-ordination, and proper research assistant rates.

Fitness employees were not paid split shift or meal allowances and progression between pay bands had been incorrectly paid.

While the underpaid staff were located across all of the university’s campuses, the majority were Brisbane-based.

The cause of the issue was chalked up to insufficient training and data collection, non-existent payroll and data review processes, a lack of automation, and deficiencies in payroll systems.

Underpayment has been cracked down on in higher education. Picture: NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Under the agreement the university will also establish a new internal body to better consult between management, employees and the education union.

“Improving universities’ workplace compliance is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman,” Ms Booth said.

“We look forward to working with the leadership teams at universities nationally to assist them to do the sustained, smart work required to ensure full compliance with workplace laws.”

Originally published as Griffith University commits to pay back more than $8m to underpaid staff