How accurate is the FairWork Mate award compliance audit?

The tool uses FairWork Mate's verified FY2026-27 award dataset — Fair Work Commission published rates effective 1 July 2026 (Annual Wage Review 2026), checked against the FWO pay guides. It checks the base hourly rate (and casual rate, which already includes 25% casual loading) against your stated current pay. It does NOT currently check: allowances (meal, tool, laundry, leading-hand), penalty rates (weekend, overtime, public holiday), classification level fit (does your actual role match the level you've selected). Use the Award Classification Wizard for classification level verification.

What if I find an underpayment?

Four-step response: (1) verify the award and classification by re-reading the award's coverage and classification descriptors; (2) correct forward immediately — update next pay run; (3) calculate full back-pay for up to 6 years using the Back Pay Calculator; (4) voluntary self-disclosure to FWO for material underpayments ($1,000+ per employee). Self-disclosure is consistently treated favourably and typically results in enforceable undertaking rather than civil penalty. For 5+ underpaid employees, get legal advice.

Can I audit more than 5 employees with this tool?

The free version caps at 5 employees per session. For larger audits and the case-law-grounded AI advisor, FairWork Mate business plans start at A$99/mo (Business Solo, 200 questions/mo) — the 3-seat Business tier ($249/mo, 600 questions/mo shared) adds a team workspace, business-context grounding and branded exports.

Will I be reported to Fair Work if I run this audit?

No. FairWork Mate doesn't report to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The audit runs entirely in your browser and the data isn't transmitted to our servers (or anyone else's). If you DO want to voluntarily self-disclose to FWO after finding an issue — which is generally the right move and treated favourably — that's a separate process you initiate directly via the FWO online portal.

Award Compliance Audit (Free up to 5 employees)

Audit your employees against the correct modern award minimum. Flags potential underpayment with annual shortfall + 6-year recovery exposure. For SME / mid-market HR, finance, in-house counsel. Scales via For Business.

Last verified: 16 May 2026

AWARD COMPLIANCE AUDIT — FREE UP TO 5 EMPLOYEES

Audit your employees' current pay against the correct modern award minimum. Flags potential underpayment with annual shortfall projected over the 6-year Fair Work Act recovery window. For full-workforce audit (50+ employees, CSV upload, ongoing monitoring): For Business.

Employees (1 of 5 free slots used)

Award

Classification

Hours/week

Current $/hr

Casual

Audit summary

Compliant

Underpaid

Annual shortfall

$2,845

6-year recovery exposure: $17,070. Underpayment is recoverable for 6 years under Fair Work Act s 545. Voluntary self-disclosure to FWO is typically treated favourably.

Per-employee detail

Name	Award / Class	Min $/hr	Current $/hr	Annual shortfall	Status
Employee 1	Hospitality Award Level 1	$26.44	$25.00	$2,845	✗

Underpayment found — what to do next

Verify the award + classification manually. Award classification is the most common error source. Use Award Finder.
Correct forward immediately. Update the next pay run to the correct rate.
Calculate full back-pay for 6 years. Use Back Pay Calculator for precise per-employee figure.
Voluntary self-disclosure to FWO for any material underpayment ($1,000+ per employee). Treated favourably; typically results in enforceable undertaking rather than civil penalty.
For 5+ underpaid employees or systematic issues: engage employment-law firm for privileged compliance review (~A$3,500-A$8,000).
Document the corrective program — going-forward training, payroll system updates, audit schedule. Strongest mitigating factor for any subsequent FWO assessment.

Scale beyond 5 employees

The free tool covers up to 5 employees. For larger audits, ongoing monitoring, CSV upload, integration with your payroll system, and the case-law-grounded advisor with 200+ questions/mo:

For Business — from A$99/mo, employer advisor + audits. View pricing.

Modern Awards Explained: How to Find and Comply With Your Award

A plain-English guide to modern awards in Australia for 2026. Learn what a modern award is, how to determine which one applies to your business, pay rates, penalty and overtime rates, allowances, and the most common compliance mistakes employers make.

Five HR questions a week: how small-business owners use FairWork Mate AI to decide in 2 minutes each

Café, retail and trades owners run into the same 5 HR questions every week — award rates, notice periods, casual conversion, public-holiday pay, and performance management. Here's how a small-business owner uses FairWork Mate AI to settle each one in under 2 minutes, with named-case citations and the right calculator already linked.

The 30-minute HR audit: 8 questions to ask FairWork Mate AI about your business today

Most underpayment and unfair dismissal claims come from the same eight blind spots. Ask FairWork Mate AI these eight questions about your business and you'll have a workforce-compliance report in 30 minutes — with named-case citations, exact award rates, and a prioritised fix list.

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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

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