Workplace Ombudsman National Hospitality Campaign

Page Last Updated: 1 April 2009

In October 2007 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Workplace Ombudsman (“WO”) and the Australian Hotels Association (“AHA”) with agreement at a meeting in December 2007 to conduct a cooperative industrial relations compliance campaign during 2008.

The WO is committed to conducting four national campaigns each year with each of the campaigns having a particular focus on what the WO sees to be vulnerable workers.

AIM

The aim of the campaign was for the WO and AHA to work in partnership with the aim of improving education on, and therefore compliance with, the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

Specific sectors within the hospitality industry were focused on. They were:

· Accommodation in the Northern Territory

· Pubs, Taverns and Bars in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia

· Five star Accommodation and Restaurants in Tasmania

· Catering with an event or function centre focus in Tasmania

· Clubs in New South Wales

AHA’S OBJECTIVES

The AHA’s objectives of the campaign were to:

· Conduct a ‘soft audit’ as a prelude to the WO undertaking its audit in later 2008 as a way to educate embers of the various compliance elements with respect to Employee Records and Pay Slips as well as other aspects of the Act

· Increase employee confidence within the sector that they are receiving their correct employment entitlements.

· Set an example to our members by working collaboratively with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a spirit of goodwill and transparency exists within our sectors.

SOFT AUDIT

The soft audit was conducted by each AHA office. The QHA distributed the soft audits in the first half of 2008 covering payslips, time and wage records, penalty rates and allowances as well as the use of workplace agreements.

QHA was then able to discuss compliance concerns with members as concerns were identified. This was prior to the WO contacting hospitality employers from August 2008, meaning QHA was able to reach members quickly and in a positive manner

WO RESULTS

The WO has released its Report on the compliance campaign.  Members seeking more information about the Report, or about complaince concerns, please conact the Empployment Relations Department.

Alternatively, members can log in to the QHA wensite to view the Report.  To log in click the log in button below.  Once you have logged in you will return to the QHA home page, where you can then return to this page to view the report.