Wage Theft
Former employee of a security firm in QLD, at the start of my employment is was not made clear what the basis of my employment was (my fault for not clarifying). After reviewing all the rosters and pay slips I was issued by my calculation I was not paid 163.5 hours of public holiday penalty rates, if I was permanent I have also lost approx 13 weeks of annual leave. If I was casual I was under paid the base hourly rate from the security services award, I also did not start getting weekend penalty rates until 2023. I started work in 2019, anytime a colleague raised an issue like this I seen the owner lose his temper and the next couple rosters those colleagues would be removed from them. As I needed the job I didn't raise it during my employment.
Any contact I have attempted seeking clarification on the basis of my employment has been ignored. Also when raising the issue of missing annual leave and penalty rates they have also been ignored.
I would like to note the business has recently been sold but the original owner is still a part of it as a director/operational manager. I am unsure whether the sale was assets or shares and if liability was transferred to new owners.
Just another side note, when one the former supervisors gave him 6 weeks notice he was terminated on the spot.
I have been in contact with the fair work ombudsman but since they are only a mediation service they seem pretty useless. I am considering hiring an employment solicitor to review all my paperwork and then trying to action something in small claims court.
I know intent is hard to prove but all guards I have spoken to within the company have advised they also did not receive public holiday penalty rates until around 2025-2026. If it was just me I could possibly understand maybe an error in payroll but given every employee did not receive this my personal opinion is that this is criminal theft of wages.