Eight staff at a Townsville fast food café have shared in $7600 back pay after the Fair Work Ombudsman found the business was inadvertently short changing the workers.

The employees were underpaid their minimum hourly rates, weekend and overtime penalty rates last financial year.

The café owners have voluntarily reimbursed all outstanding entitlements after cooperating with Fair Work inspectors.

In a separate matter, the Fair Work Ombudsman has also recouped $7600 for a Townsville accountant not paid her outstanding wages and annual leave entitlements on termination of employment last year.

Acting Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell, says both cases highlight the importance of Townsville employers taking the time to understand their obligations to their employees under Federal workplace laws.

“A small mistake left over time can easily result in a hefty bill for back payment of wages, so it is important employers get it right in the first place,” he said.

Campbell urged local businesses to access the range of free tools available at www.fairwork.gov.au to help them understand and comply with workplace laws.

Online tools include calculators to assist employers and employees determine the correct award and minimum wages for their industry, templates for time and wages records and an Online Learning Centre with free interactive courses.

Campbell says the Fair Work Ombudsman is making compliance easier for businesses by continually building on the information available on its website.

“Small businesses often don’t have the benefit of in house human resources and payroll staff, so we place a high priority on assisting them,” he said.

“Equipping people with the information they need helps to create fair and productive workplaces, as well as ensuring a level playing field for all.”