6. THE MINIMUM WAGE PLAYBOOK

The Professional Hospitality Business's Complete Guide to National Minimum Wage, Unlawful Deductions & Fair Work Agency Compliance

Almost nobody named for a minimum wage breach set out to underpay their staff, it's usually a payroll system that wasn't updated in time, an apprentice kept on the training rate too long, or an accommodation charge that quietly crept above the legal offset years ago. This guide covers current rates, exactly what counts as pay and what doesn't (tips never count, and certain deductions reduce your effective rate even when they're otherwise lawful), and the newly launched Fair Work Agency, which can now investigate proactively without waiting for a complaint. A full worked example shows precisely how a payslip that looks compliant on paper can still be a real breach once accommodation, deductions and unpaid working time are properly accounted for. The toolkit includes a minimum wage audit checklist, an accommodation and deductions calculator, a pay records request log, and a complete self-audit.