QLD Former Employer Refusing to pay wages

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WadeHeg

Member
18 November 2017
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My partner and I were employed for a total of 5 days. The contract was verbally and advertised full time on salary. Due to personal circumstances we had to resign and leave the following day. It has been 4 weeks now and the former employer has not contacted us regarding our pay. My partner sent an email regarding the payment asking it to be paid in a reasonable time. The former employer sent an email back saying that we would not be paid due to not giving them 2 weeks notice and that we would be charged a total of over $5k for training, uniforms (which were returned, accommodation (which they said was included) and also the job advertisement itself that we applied for through an online job seeking website.
I was just wondering what our rights are in regards to being paid for the work, giving notice, being charged for the list above.
 

Rob Legat - SBPL

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
16 February 2017
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Gold Coast, Queensland
lawtap.com
It depends on what the relevant award has to say. Despite being a "verbal contract" the terms of the award are binding as base guarantees - employment contracts can give you more, but they can't go below. Some awards may allow the employer to withhold payment if notice periods are not observed, and in some cases to recover training expenses.