More than $220,000 recovered for Sunshine Coast food outlet workers

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $223,107 for 447 underpaid food outlet employees on the Sunshine Coast.

The recovery was a result of the surprise inspections conducted by Fair Work inspectors, who investigated 21 businesses in the Noosa Shire food precincts IN the suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach and Noosaville’s. The investigations included the fast food, restaurant and café sector, ranging from ‘high-end’ restaurants to ‘cheap eats’ venues. The inspections were prompted by intelligence from a range of sources, including anonymous reports.

A total of 19 investigations were finalised, resulting in the FWO finding workplace law breaches in 68 per cent of food outlets (13 businesses). The most common breach was underpayment of or failure to pay penalty rates (14 businesses), followed by failure to pay correct minimum wages for ordinary hours (11 businesses), failure to pay overtime (six businesses), failure to pay leave entitlements (six businesses), and record-keeping breaches (five businesses).

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth stated that improving compliance in the fast food, restaurant and café sector was an “ongoing priority” for the FWO.

“These disappointing Sunshine Coast findings 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,” Booth said. “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 highest amount recovered from any one business was $105,137 for 99 employees, mostly casual wait staff and kitchen staff and a mix of adults and juniors who were underpaid their overtime hours and penalty rates.

Following investigations, the FWO issued 14 Compliance Notices, which resulted in the aforementioned recoveries of $223,107 for 447 workers.

Five Infringement Notices for payslip and record-keeping breaches resulted in $26,650 in fines paid, while one business remains under investigation.

The national program of audits has previously targeted eateries in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart,  Gold Coast, Perth, Newcastle, and Canberra, among others. In 2022-23, FWO secured more than $800,000 in court-ordered penalties against food sector employers.