Fair Work compliance is one of the most critical obligations facing Australian small businesses. With penalties reaching up to $93,900 per contravention for companies, understanding your obligations is not optional.
What Is Fair Work Compliance?
The Fair Work Act 2009 sets out the minimum employment standards for Australian workplaces. These include the National Employment Standards (NES), modern awards, enterprise agreements, and protections against unfair dismissal.
Key Obligations for Small Business
Every employer must provide employees with a Fair Work Information Statement within the first day of employment. You must pay at least the national minimum wage or the applicable award rate, whichever is higher. Record-keeping requirements are strict: you must retain employee records for seven years.
Common Compliance Mistakes
The most frequent errors we see include misclassifying employees as contractors, failing to pay overtime or penalty rates correctly, and not providing proper notice of termination. Each of these can trigger Fair Work Ombudsman investigations.
How Jordan Firme Helps
Our HR compliance audits identify gaps before they become liabilities. We review your employment contracts, pay structures, and record-keeping systems against current Fair Work requirements and provide a clear remediation plan.