Being underpaid at work.

[Blinger]

I'll keep this quick and simple:

I worked Good Friday (public holiday in Australia), I am meant to get double pay for public holidays, I got roughly $28 an hour instead of $40.
The owners say "they can't afford to pay me public holiday rates" (they ASKED me to work, I was the only person on).

What do I do? It's not the first time this has happened, and they just hired a new person who sucks anyway, so they obviously aren't money strapped...

[FlyingJesus]

If it's contracted then they have to, especially since by the sounds of it you were doing it as overtime anyway

[HE-Joshua]

I'll keep this quick and simple:

I worked Good Friday (public holiday in Australia), I am meant to get double pay for public holidays, I got roughly $28 an hour instead of $40.
The owners say "they can't afford to pay me public holiday rates" (they ASKED me to work, I was the only person on).

What do I do? It's not the first time this has happened, and they just hired a new person who sucks anyway, so they obviously aren't money strapped...

OK - First you need to advise what the relevant award covers your industry and/or if an applicable enterprise agreement exists - It's definitely not right for them to say they cannot afford penalties for a public holiday. Once you provide that I can give you more detailed information regarding this situation.

It would pay to be part of a union if this is a frequent thing (most people join unions after experiencing trouble with there employer). The most important thing is that you should not fear termination for demanding your correct wage - Australia's Fair Work system protects you from being unfairly dismissed from your job because you stood up for your rights or joined a union.

Again I can provide more information once you provide the industry and role you work in (if its a chain employer like Mcdonalds or Woolworths) just provide the company name.

[Blinger]

If it's contracted then they have to, especially since by the sounds of it you were doing it as overtime anyway
Well there are 2.5 bakers. Two full time, and one apprentice. The apprentice is on his way out because he is ****, so we didn't ask him to work yesterday since it's a fairly easy day anyway.

I worked yesterday and this morning (both are public holidays (http://www.business.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-holidays-and-daylight-saving/victorian-public-holidays)). When they asked me I said "I don't care about working public holidays, but I'm not doing it for crappy pay" since they originally told us they can't afford the public holiday rates. In Australia you either work + get paid penalty rates, or it's a paid day off, so it's a win-win for me, really. Anyway, they still wanted me to work so it's not really overtime as such, I think.

[Chippiewill]

If you agreed to get paid less then you might be SOL (Asking you to be paid less might not be allowed either), however if you were obliged to work then I suspect they're required to pay you the full overtime.

[Blinger]

OK - First you need to advise what the relevant award covers your industry and/or if an applicable enterprise agreement exists - It's definitely not right for them to say they cannot afford penalties for a public holiday. Once you provide that I can give you more detailed information regarding this situation.

It would pay to be part of a union if this is a frequent thing (most people join unions after experiencing trouble with there employer). The most important thing is that you should not fear termination for demanding your correct wage - Australia's Fair Work system protects you from being unfairly dismissed from your job because you stood up for your rights or joined a union.

Again I can provide more information once you provide the industry and role you work in (if its a chain employer like Mcdonalds or Woolworths) just provide the company name.
Nah, I'm with an independent bakery now. I know by law a few things aren't done here. Like payslips - what are they? lol. In 6 months I have received.. maybe a third of them, and that's because I asked. This (https://extranet.deewr.gov.au/ccmsv8/ExternalDocument.aspx/BYREF/8524796089737369088889912894/216298/MA000004.HTM#P769_62631) is the award, I know it says additional 150% which to me sounds like 2.5 x $20 (let's say) so $50 an hour, right?

The thing that is annoying me most, yesterday for example the shop was closed but I had to bake for a supermarket, they got 200 hot cross buns, let's say they cost $1 each wholesale (may be a bit more), that's $200 right there, and then they also have about $400 worth of stuff on a normal order, so roughly $600 and they "can't afford" my pay? grrrr!

I'm thinking of just walking out on them if they don't pay me the additional $80 plus today's pay ($320).. ;-\

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If you agreed to get paid less then you might be SOL (Asking you to be paid less might not be allowed either), however if you were obliged to work then I suspect they're required to pay you the full overtime.
Well we never had a proper talk about how much I will get. When they asked I responded about not working for crappy pay ($20 an hour instead of $40) and they said "okay, we'll talk about it tomorrow then" and we never did. They just handed me $200 today (I didn't count it in front of them/the apprentice) and said "today's pay will be given to you Thursday" which is pay day.

[Chippiewill]

Well we never had a proper talk about how much I will get. When they asked I responded about not working for crappy pay ($20 an hour instead of $40) and they said "okay, we'll talk about it tomorrow then" and we never did. They just handed me $200 today (I didn't count it in front of them/the apprentice) and said "today's pay will be given to you Thursday" which is pay day.

If you never agreed to be paid less than double AND if it states either in contract or in law that you should be paid double then in my opinion you are 100% in the right to expect double.

[Matt]

Yeah don't just let them get off with it. They owe you the money they can't turn round after you've worked the hours and then say they can't afford to pay you the extra. Considering they have the money to employ a new person too, then they're just trying to rip you off.

[Becca]

i literally get underpaid every month, i just complain until they do it
i got underpaid £28 this month and i threatened to quit, they gave me the money out of the till and promised it will never happen again... be amazing at your job and you can just threaten to leave so they make sure they don't do it

[Blinger]

i literally get underpaid every month, i just complain until they do it
i got underpaid £28 this month and i threatened to quit, they gave me the money out of the till and promised it will never happen again... be amazing at your job and you can just threaten to leave so they make sure they don't do it
They do need me, there's me and one and a half other bakers. The half is most likely gonna be fired soon.. so, ya.

[Zak]

All companies seem to BS that they have no money to pay for anything.. when that really just isn't the case. They will try and get the most out of their staff for as little as possible.

[Becca]

They do need me, there's me and one and a half other bakers. The half is most likely gonna be fired soon.. so, ya.

just threaten to quit then because they'd be crying without you

[Firehorse]

If it's the law then they need to comply with it, it's not about whether or not they can afford your wage. If you're an employee and not the owner of the business your wage is as contracted regardless of the company's income.

I should damn well move to Australia. $28 an hour?! That's twice what I earn here in the UK (after currency conversion); wages here are a joke.

[Blinger]

I should damn well move to Australia. $28 an hour?! That's twice what I earn here in the UK (after currency conversion); wages here are a joke.
I'm a cheap(ish) employee, I get paid $22 an hour and on public holidays it's triple time effectively. Normally you should get paid penalty rates with my job (12am-5am is 30% extra), but I don't get it.

Problem was solved anyways, the other owner just gave me the correct pay. They tried to pull a shifty saying Saturday isn't a public holiday, went home printing the pages off from government sites (it's literally the first result in Google :rolleyes:) and got paid $320 for Saturday. Good day!

[Plebings]

If it's the law then they need to comply with it, it's not about whether or not they can afford your wage. If you're an employee and not the owner of the business your wage is as contracted regardless of the company's income.

I should damn well move to Australia. $28 an hour?! That's twice what I earn here in the UK (after currency conversion); wages here are a joke.

tbh the price of living in au is like $3 for our £1, so we don't have it that bad

[Firehorse]

tbh the price of living in au is like $3 for our £1, so we don't have it that bad

That may be true for most of the UK, but move to London and I think you'll find the cost of living is practically identical to most of Australia.

Want to rent a 2 bedroom flat excluding bills in Zone 3? That'll be £400 a week please.

[Plebings]

ah, forgot about you southerners. joys of the north!

[Blinger]

ah, forgot about you southerners. joys of the north!


That may be true for most of the UK, but move to London and I think you'll find the cost of living is practically identical to most of Australia.

Want to rent a 2 bedroom flat excluding bills in Zone 3? That'll be £400 a week please.
Yeah we pay a bit for things, technology/movies/cars (you never see Ferraris or Lambos or Maybachs unlike London)/alcohol etc are all ridiculously expensive, a CHEAP full strength slab of beer in aus is about $35-40? Captain Morgans on special for ONE LITRE cost me something like £13 or so, in Melbourne for 700ml on special it costs $34.

But the basics in life are cheap, want cheap milk? 1L = $1. Want cheap nasty bread? 1 loaf = $1. Want a bottle of coke (600ml).. not cheap, average price is $3.50.

[Firehorse]

Yeah we pay a bit for things, technology/movies/cars (you never see Ferraris or Lambos or Maybachs unlike London)/alcohol etc are all ridiculously expensive, a CHEAP full strength slab of beer in aus is about $35-40? Captain Morgans on special for ONE LITRE cost me something like £13 or so, in Melbourne for 700ml on special it costs $34.

But the basics in life are cheap, want cheap milk? 1L = $1. Want cheap nasty bread? 1 loaf = $1. Want a bottle of coke (600ml).. not cheap, average price is $3.50.

What would you expect to pay for things like local public transport, a cinema ticket, McDonald's cheeseburger?

[God]

What would you expect to pay for things like local public transport, a cinema ticket, McDonald's cheeseburger?

Cost of living in Canada is crazy. For exemple, a package of 3 chicken breasts is 20$ CAD or 10.78 BSP
Petrol is insane, I remember when I was young it was like 0.80$/litre 0.43 now its 1.40$/litre 0.75

To take the bus its like 2$ (1.08 BSP), 9.50$ (5.12) to see a film, and a McGMOBurger single cheese burger one is 1.37$ (0.74 GSP)

What used to buy you a shopping cart full of grocerys now gives u half a basket.

[scottish]

It's £1.30/L (ish) here for petrol which is like $2.41 CAD so consider yourself lucky.

Depending on bus can vary from like £2 to like £10, cinema is £7 odd a ticket, a single cheeseburger is £0.89 or £0.99

[Blinger]

What would you expect to pay for things like local public transport, a cinema ticket, McDonald's cheeseburger?
In Melbourne it's different to other states, but we pay for 1 day of PT Monday to Friday full-fare zone 1 and 2 (I'm at the end of zone 2, which is 40km from the CBD) it's $12.12 a day. Here's a calculator (http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/metropolitan-myki-fares/). A cinema ticket that isn't Tight Arse Tuesday or Saturday evening is maybe about $20. I was stocked in Dublin watching a movie in the CBD (IMAX it felt like) for $12! Maccas cheeseburger I'm not sure, I don't go to Maccas, but I'd hazard a guess at $2 or so.

Petrol is cheap as chips here compared to London, I am going to fill up the tank tomorrow, and it's currently sitting at $1.382 per litre after the 4cent discount.

[Liva]

Yeah from what I know, it should say in your contract whether you get paid penalty rates or not. Also, do join a union. My boyfriend has to do the same thing, his work doesn't pay penalty rates because the employers got away with it in the contract somehow, and the business is about to close so he doesn't wanna lose his job and money that he's owed. So stupid.
Also, $12 a day for busses? It costs me $2.60 a day to get to school and back because I'm a student. D:

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