Sydney nursing home to repay workers following audit
An eastern Sydney nursing home has been underpaying its aged care workers – and has to reimburse 32 staff more than $92,000.
Workplace inspectors audited the nursing home as part of a national campaign targeting the human services sector.
Federal Workplace Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the employer was not properly paying its workers for overtime.
“The nursing home mistakenly believed that if staff asked to work overtime, then the applicable overtime rate did not need to be paid,” he said.
“We have told the employer that this is not correct and the company has agreed to back-pay the affected workers.
“It has also agreed to alter its record-keeping practices to ensure that this mistake is not repeated.”
The coast-to-coast human services campaign involved workplace inspectors auditing 84 aged care providers in NSW and a further 77 in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the ACT.
In NSW, a total of 18 employers were found to have underpaid about 170 workers more than $117,000.
Nationally, 51 companies had underpaid 671 workers $268,000.
Mr Campbell said all underpayments were inadvertent and employers had agreed to back-pay workers all money owed.
“Employers have been educated and cautioned in this instance, but they do need to be aware that a breach of the Workplace Relations Act can result in a fine of up to $33,000,” he said.
Employers unsure if they are doing the right thing should contact the Workplace Infoline on 1300 363 264.
