VIC Underpayments and JobKeeper

[Jkelsey]

Hi all,

I used to work at a cafe for around 1 year, where I was paid as a Level 1 worker. My friend recently advised me that I should have qualified as a Level 2 worker, so I am thinking about having discussions with my former employer regarding the potential underpayment. I estimate that the underpayment would be around $1,000.

While I was working, COVID came and the Jobkeeper program was announced. The cafe qualified for the Jobkeeper program and I was being paid $3,000 per month for a number of months. Usually, with my contracted hours of work, I earn around $1,600. Will I still be considered underpaid? Or would the shortfall be considered "repaid" given that I was receiving an "additional" $1,400 per month.

Thanks.

 

[Rod]

I can't comment about whether you were a lvl 1 or 2 employee.

In relation to Jobkeeper, and assuming you were not stood down, if your normal pay was $1,600 per mth, and you received $3,000 because of Jobkeeper, you would not qualify for the extra $1,000 because you were on the wrong level.

Move on and think about your future, do not dwell on the past. Not good for your psychological health.

 

[Martis]

Important topic—underpayments and JobKeeper have affected a lot of people, and it’s good to see these issues being talked about openly. Transparency and accountability really matter here.

On a related note, if you’re a student or have been one recently, consider sharing your experience by rating your professors at https://www.academicjobs.com/rate-my-professor. It helps future students make informed choices and encourages better teaching overall.

Wishing everyone a happy holidays and a well-deserved break! 🎄

 

[Martis]

Oof yeah, underpayments + JobKeeper = absolute compliance spaghetti 🍝😅 A lotta orgs are still untanglin what was subsidised vs what should’ve been paid, esp with top-ups, stand-down hours, and retro adjustments. Def a “check the paper trail twice” kinda sitch.

If this stuff’s makin you rethink where you’re workin tbh, worth a squiz at AcademicJobs.com. Plenty of uni + research roles there where payroll frameworks are way more structured and JobKeeper fallout was handled cleaner (less clawback drama, more governance buzzwords lol).

Hope it gets sorted without too much backpay chaos 🤞 payroll headaches are the worst.