Truck driver was not paid entitlements after being laid-off.
Businesses are being reminded to pay their workers correctly when firing them, after a truck driver did not receive his entitlements upon parting ways with his employer.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) recently secured $6,000 for the Maitland truck driver during a workplace inspection campaign.
The driver was reimbursed the money for unpaid redundancy pay, annual leave entitlements and travel allowances.
“Paying workers correctly on termination of employment is just as important as ensuring they receive their full entitlements throughout their employment,” ombudsman Natalie James says.
“Termination entitlements play a vital supporting role for workers while they attempt to pick themselves up, find a new job and get back on their feet.”
The FWO says it explained to the truck driver’s former employer its workplace obligations.
“Our focus is on educating employers about their obligations and helping them to put processes in place to ensure that any errors don’t occur again,” James says.
The FWO’s reminder to businesses about paying workers correctly comes after it issued a notice to employers and employees about rates and entitlements over the Easter public holiday period.
National public holidays fall on Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6), while some jurisdictions have declared Easter Saturday and/or Easter Sunday as public holidays.
“Whether you are a business operator preparing for Easter trading or an employee working through Easter, it’s important you are aware of the public holidays and any penalty rates that apply,” James says.
“It is important for employers to be fully aware of the minimum pay rates that apply to their employees, otherwise they can end up facing bills for back-payment of wages they weren’t budgeting for.”