Pay Inquiry – Questions, Tips, and Initial Advice

Pay Inquiry – Questions, Tips, and Initial Advice

Pay Inquiry – Questions, Tips, and Initial Advice

Summary

Employees may query underpayments or overpayments where pay appears inconsistent with their contract, award, or their usual pay. Typical issues involve misapplied classifications, missing allowances, or incorrect application of overtime or other penalties. Assessment can require comparing contracts, award/EBA pay scales, and pay slips.

Questions

  • Describe the discrepancy and why you believe it exists.
  • Instrument and classification (request contract/payslip).
  • Raised with manager/payroll? How have they explained the situation? 

Preliminary Advice

  • Provide the instrument if the member doesn’t have it.
  • Check classification on payslip; compare instrument vs payslip.
  • Clarify circumstances that may entitle someone to a certain allowance. Does the member meet the criteria?
  • Make a formal request to payroll to review the discrepancy.
  • Identify relevant clauses and explain how criteria are met.
  • Compile timesheets, payslips, and emails into a clear calculation and request the employer’s calculation in writing.

Things to Remember

  • For case referrals, request contract/offer and a payslip (ABN, worksite, instrument, classification, rate, offset clauses).
  • Offset clauses can wrap up certain entitlements into one higher pay rate but they must specify inclusions; employees cannot be worse off than the Award.
  • Where there is no EA in Aged Care/Disability/Private, use Fair Work PACT for rates.

Escalation/Referral

  • Industrial Officer: Complex offsetting clauses or underpayment claim where employer will not resolve issue.
  • Organiser: Systemic underpayment impacting groups of members or employees.

Copy–Paste Email Templates

Underpayment Review (Member to Employer)

Subject: Request to Review Pay Discrepancy

Dear [Manager/Payroll],

I believe there is a pay discrepancy relating to [entitlement/classification] under the [Award/EBA] (clause [x]). I meet the criteria because [reasons]. Please provide a written breakdown of how my pay has been calculated. I’ve attached relevant payslips/timesheets.

Kind regards,
[Name]
[Role]

Info Request (MSO to Member)

Subject: Pay Inquiry – Information Request

Hi [Name],

Please send your contract/offer letter, latest payslips, instrument details, and a brief summary of your calculation of any underpayment.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Member Services

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