University pledges to pay back more than $8m to underpaid staff
Share this @internewscast.com

A Queensland university has signed an agreement pledging to repay thousands of underpaid staff more than $8 million.

Griffith University failed to properly compensate 5,457 employees across its six campuses, affecting full-time, part-time, and casual staff since 2015. The underpayment impacted academics, fitness staff, and support personnel.

Individual underpayments ranged from less than $1 to more than $92,400, including superannuation and interest.

The Griffith University campus on the Gold Coast in Queensland.(Public Domain)

The university will now repay more than $8.34 million in payments after it signed an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The government watchdog found academics were not paid properly for activities such as tutorials and subject coordination rates.

Fitness staff were not paid split shift or meal allowances and progression between pay bands had been incorrectly paid.

Insufficient training, inadequate data collection, lack of automation, payroll system errors, and lax payroll and data review processes were identified as the causes of these payment issues.

The five qualifications in hot demand for Australia’s future jobs

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said Griffith University had self-reported the breaches and co-operated with the ombudsman’s investigation.

“This situation highlights the serious, ongoing problems that can arise when an employer does not implement appropriate checks and balances to ensure workplace compliance,” she stated.

Griffith is the sixth university to sign an agreement to repay staff who were underpaid.

“We expect universities to meet their legal obligations under their own enterprise agreements and underlying awards,” Booth said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Port Adelaide defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher has had to flee his home in Glenelg East as a fire threatened to set the property aflame.

Port Adelaide Player Escapes Early Morning Fire Emergency

Port Adelaide defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher has had to flee his home in…
Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park (pictured)

British Tourist and Friend Tragically Killed by Elephant During Sunrise Safari Walk

A British tourist and her friend from New Zealand  were killed by a…

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Cleared of Sex Trafficking Charges, Faces Other Convictions

Key Points Sean Combs was found guilty on two counts of transporting…
A food delivery driver in Sydney.

How Restaurants Are Thriving with the Rise in Food Delivery Services

The growing success of food delivery apps is driving a lucrative opportunity…
A NASA diagram shows the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS as it passes through the solar system.

Astronomers Observe an Interstellar Object Passing Through Our Solar System

A newly identified object racing through our solar system is causing much…

Michael Madsen, acclaimed for roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, passes away at 67

American actor Michael Madsen, who appeared in dozens of films including Reservoir…
'National emergency': Another fire ant nest found in NSW

“National Concern: New Fire Ant Nest Discovered in NSW”

A colony of invasive fire ants was discovered on a property in…

Victoria Unveils Major Changes Following Childcare Abuse Allegations

This article contains references to child abuse. Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan has…
ghost stores

ACCC Alerts About Online ‘Ghost Stores’ Deceiving Shoppers

Australians have been warned about shopping at alleged “ghost stores”, websites which…
Fallen WA Police officer Anthony Woods

WA Policeman’s Killer in Car Theft Case Sentenced

Reagan Ainslie Chown, 25, was convicted of manslaughter over the late-night June…

“Trapped No More: Australian Family’s Four-Day Escape from Iran-Israel Tensions”

Key Points Mehri and her family travelled to Iran for a family…
The US economy has shrunk in the last quarter, with Donald Trump's trade war blamed.

Trump’s Trade War Cited as Cause for Unexpected US Economic Decline

The US economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.5% from January…