Minimum Wage in Brisbane convenience store? getting ripped off?

Question

Hi please help if you can!

I think my friend is getting ripped off at work!!

She's 23 years old

In Brisbane

Works part time at a 'well known' 24 hours convenience store for 8 months.

Her shift lasts from 3pm to 10 pm (7 hours) and on a roster.

However her pay slip always says that she have worked 3.4 hours (instead of 7 hours) @ $18.50 per hour.

So her last cheque was

3.4 x $18.50 = $62.90 dollars,

She worked for 7 hours so

$62.50/7 hours= $8.98/hour....

Her payslip also says AES Superannuation : $5.66

I helped her look at this website that says over 20 years old the minimum wage in Qld is $12.59 per hour:

http://www.wageline.qld.gov.au/awardsonline/qmw.html

Yet she is only getting $8.98 / hour

Whats really suss was that she have worked for 7 hours but her pay slip always says less then that (usually only 3.4 hours)

Same for other friends that work at that 24 hour place. Can anything be done?

Thanks in advance!

hi thank u all for ur lovely responses

i think the employer is sneaky, the payment slip that he's required to give shows proper rates, however he discount them on the number of hours they have worked

i think i will get some proof of how many hours she works , she is required to log into the cashier machine when she starts and log out, but it is a random number assigned to her and cant prove that number is her.

the manager also keeps a roster of who is on, but no one can have access to it

what would be a good way to proove how many hours she have worked in her shift?

Answer 1

Yes. She is being ripped off. Terribly. And her employer is breaking the law.

When she starts work does she have to sign a sign-on sheet? or does she simply only log onto a register. You said she has a random number, does it change everytime she works? if not look carefully at her receipts it may show up...I imagine theres a reason behind her having it.

The advice about going to the union is a good one, if you really get no help. Go to Today Tonight-- i'm sure they'd love to write a story about the aussie battler getting ripped off by Howards work choice.

And $8.98 is complete crap. so illegal its not funny. also it means they are not making the required superannuations payments. I hope all goes well for your friend...if they fire her for kicking up a fuss, she could always go them for unfair dismissal :-)

Answer 2

Minimum Wage Brisbane

Answer 3

Yes - if she is working the 7 hours she should be getting paid the 7 hours. The employer is breaking the law.
If you feel very upset about it leak it to the media - just send an anonymous email if you need to. They love that kind of story.
Your girlfriend should apply for a new job. I worked part time at Coles and got paid very well.
NO ONE in Australia should be paid under $10 an hour.
I hope this works out for her (and you).

Answer 4

If you want to work 80 hrs per week maybe. Get another job, the only thing a minimum wage job is good for is experience. Example-if your a cashier and over 18 and got a hs diploma apply at some banks as a teller.

Answer 5

Tell her to talk to her union representative. If she isn't a member of the union, join it. That is precisely what unions are for. It is the unions that won all the rights we have at work including the minimum wage. To find out which union to join and to join it, look here:
http://www.actu.asn.au/joinaunion/default.aspx
Even without being a member it is likely that the union would give her advice - but she would be expected to join.

Answer 6

Your friend must lodge a complaint through the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations. if this also not solve this problem then she has to contact to judicial court.

Answer 7

tell her to get a different job.yes she is being ripped off .company is probably only declaring to the tax department that she is working the 3 hours.dob them in to taxation ..the $18 is what she probably should be earning because of the later shift.should be that per hour.

Answer 8

your friend must lodge a complaint thru theDepartment of Employment and Industrial Relations
a form is downloadable from wageline