The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $39,600 in penalties in court against a Perth-based company and its former director. The Federal Circuit and Family Court has imposed a $33,000 penalty against AICA International Pty Ltd – which is based in Bibra Lake and operated in several industries including legal, accounting, education, marketing and information technology […]
READ MORETip on managing payroll in a remote team
Managing payroll in a remote team is not just about pressing a mythical button. It requires clear processes, technology alignment, fraud prevention measures and compliance vigilance to protect your business and your employees, even when your payroll team is distributed. Define and document your payroll process clearly Remote payroll teams must have detailed, step-by-step process […]
READ MOREEnd of year blues (a payroll professional’s lament)
June rolls in with a cold sharp bite,And payroll teams prepare for the fight.Not fists and fury, but forms and files,With checklists stretching endless miles. The phone won’t stop, the queries flow,“Will my super clear?”, “Do you even know?”While juggling pay runs and EOFY stress,You’ve not even touched your inbox mess. Reconcile everything, down to […]
READ MOREUnfair dismissal high income threshold increases from 1 July 2025: what it means for payroll and employers
From 1 July 2025, the Fair Work Commission will raise the high income threshold in unfair dismissal claims from $175,000 to $183,100. The compensation cap is also increasing, up from $87,500 to $91,550. These figures are not just abstract legal benchmarks, they carry significant implications for payroll, HR and executive decision makers. This annual adjustment, […]
READ MOREWhy superannuation errors are not just mistakes they’re compliance time bombs
It may not always grab headlines like wages underpayment scandals, but failing to pay the correct superannuation is one of the most common and costly compliance issues in Australian payroll. Whether it’s misclassifying contractors or miscalculating ordinary time earnings (OTE), these errors can have significant financial, legal and reputational consequences. Superannuation must be calculated on […]
READ MOREPayroll records prove pivotal in employment dispute
A recent Fair Work Commission case has highlighted a timely reminder for payroll professionals: your records may be your organisation’s best defence. In this case, an employee alleged they had been underpaid and sought compensation for what they claimed was a breach of contract. However, the employer’s payroll records told a different story, and ultimately, […]
READ MOREBad payroll data? Why going it alone is a risk you can’t afford
If there’s one trap businesses consistently underestimate, it’s bad payroll data. Missing timesheets, inconsistent employee classifications and incomplete historical records might not seem like a big deal, until you’re faced with the task of remediating underpayments. Then, these data gaps become gaping chasms. And too many businesses think they can cross them without support. The […]
READ MOREThird maximum term contract role was not substantially similar work
Amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) limiting the use of fixed term and maximum term contracts prohibit employers from providing employees with successive term contracts, unless an exception applies. The FW Act provides that if an employer enters into a prohibited term contract, then provisions which provide for the termination of […]
READ MOREPayroll Technology in 2025: What Payroll Leaders Should Know
The 2025 Payroll Industry Report from the Australian Payroll Association offers a clear view into how payroll systems are performing across the country. Based on input from over 1,900 employers, it highlights practical opportunities to improve system integration, automation, and decision support. For payroll leaders managing compliance, reporting, and operational accuracy, the findings are both […]
READ MORE7 Payroll Hiring Mistakes – And How Top Employers Avoid Them
Hiring great payroll professionals shouldn’t feel like rolling the dice — yet many organisations continue to make the same avoidable mistakes. Whether you’re scaling your payroll team or replacing a key staff member, it’s time to rethink how you attract and assess talent in this mission-critical function. Here are the seven most common hiring mistakes […]
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