Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2023-12-20-st-vincents-health-eu-media-release
At a glance
- Penalty
- $4,400,000
- Employees affected
- 2700
What happened
St Vincent’s Health Australia, a large not-for-profit health and aged care provider, self-reported underpayments to the Fair Work Ombudsman in July 2021. Four of its businesses – St Vincent’s Private Hospitals Ltd, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Limited, St Vincent’s Care Services Ltd, and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney – underpaid employees in NSW and Queensland between 2014 and 2020. The underpayments, totaling over $4.4 million, affected more than 2,700 current and former employees. Affected roles included nurses, support staff, aged care workers, clinical managers, and personal care assistants. The underpayments related to annual leave loading, weekly allowances, overtime entitlements, and annual leave entitlements.
What was decided
The four St Vincent’s Health Australia businesses have signed an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman and will back-pay more than $4.4 million in underpayments, including wages, superannuation, and interest. They must also implement stringent measures to ensure future compliance, including an independent audit and a telephone hotline for employee inquiries. The businesses must complete all back-payments by the end of June 2024. The Fair Work Ombudsman considered the businesses’ cooperation and commitment to rectification when deciding on the EU.
What it means for employers
Employers must prioritize ensuring workers receive all lawful entitlements. Lack of investment in human resources and poor governance can lead to long-term breaches and significant rectification costs. Care sector employers, a Fair Work Ombudsman priority, should have governance systems in place to ensure compliance.
What it means for employees
Current and former employees of the St Vincent’s Health Australia businesses are receiving back-payments for underpaid wages and entitlements. Employees can seek free advice and assistance from the Fair Work Infoline or website.
Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:
https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/2023-media-releases/december-2023/20231220-st-vincents-health-eu-media-releaseWant more cases like this?
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This summary was drafted by AI from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →