Anonymous reporting now an option with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has recently introduced an online "Anonymous Report" function allowing employees, employers and the general community to report suspected breaches of workplace laws and unlawful practices to the FWO without disclosing their identity.
The function is designed at building a "culture of compliance" and is not only aimed at providing anonymity to employees who wish to report unlawful practices to the FWO, but also to employers with concerns that other businesses may be getting a competitive advantage through non-compliance with workplace laws.
While the FWO has indicated that information disclosed on the Anonymous Report site may not result in immediate action, the tip-offs will be analysed by the FWO's Intelligence team to look for trends and patterns.
According to the FWO, since going live the Anonymous Report site has received more than 500 tip-offs, the majority of which relate to wage and payment rates.
It is important that employers are aware of their obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and modern awards, particularly with respect to wage and payment rates, entitlements and allowances.
The Anonymous Report function can be accessed at http://www.fairwork.gov.au/tipoff.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
