How’s this for an employment contract – Barry Cafe’s laughable paperwork
It might seem like a joke, but this is the employment contract the owners of Barry Café allegedly gives new employees.
The contract has a number of blank sections for the worker to fill out, for example, their name and their hourly rate.
It also stipulates the business will not pay penalty loading, and will instead reimburse the worker with lunch and coffees.
Workplace laws require wages to be paid in money – and nothing else.
Unions, in addition to workers, recently staged a noisy protests outside Barry Café, which is located at Northcote in Melbourne over alleged wage theft.
The contract allegedly given to new employees.
Barry Cafe’s laughable employment contract
Miles Heffernan, Director of Litigation at Industrial Relations Claims, says the contract is laughable.
“Workplace laws require employers to pay lawfudl minimum wages and entitlements as set out in the relevant award,” he said.
“These details are easily found on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
“Individual employers can’t invent their own contracts that contravene the conditions of a modern award.”
The Hospo Voice Union has exposed widespread wage theft at Café Barry.
Hospo Voice
The Hospo Voice Union posted the amateur contract on its Facebook page, following a protest about wage theft at the venue.
Staff claim Barry paid them a flat rate of $18 an hour, in addition to failing to pay them penalty rates for public holidays or weekend work.
The award rate for casual staff is $24.41 for weekdays, and $29.30 for weekends.
Staff also claim management only allow 15-minute breaks, well short of what is legal.
When four workers complained about their pay conditions, Barry Café allegedly refused to roster them for further shifts.
The United Voice Union’s Young Workers’ Centre is supporting the workers, and is considering legal action against the café.
Wage scandal could bankrupt business
Mr Heffernan said if the underpayment allegations are true, it could spell the end of Barry Café.
“Businesses that engage in deliberate wage theft, and then take adverse action against staff who complain about it, should be prepared to pay enormous penalties and compensation,” he said.
Call our team at Industrial Relations Claims today on
