Industry – Retail
From stocktake to sale day – payroll that’s always spot on
The industry also employs a significant number of migrant and younger workers, particularly in cafes, restaurants, and fast-food outlets, where part-time and casual arrangements dominate. These workers are more likely to experience payroll errors due to misclassification, incorrect penalty rates, and underpayment of entitlements such as overtime and weekend loadings. Many younger migrant workers may have limited awareness of their workplace rights, increasing their vulnerability to non-compliance issues.
Retail businesses have faced intensified scrutiny from Fair Work, with audits frequently uncovering widespread errors in shift penalties, overtime calculations, and wage compliance.
Key Industry Statistics
High turnover (51% part-time workforce) and reliance on casual employees.
The median weekly earnings for retail workers are $1,229, which is lower than many other industries, making payroll compliance crucial.
Retail is one of Australia’s largest employment sectors, with a workforce of over 1.3 million people.
Recent migrants are 40% more likely to be underpaid than long-term residents, with retail being a key sector affected by this trend.
Common payroll challenges in retail:
As with other industries, there are specific challenges commonly faced by businesses operating within the retail sector, including:
- Casual & part-time pay complexity Managing penalty rates, overtime, and leave entitlements across different contract types can result in costly errors.
- Award compliance risks Misapplying the Retail, Fast Food, and Pharmacy Awards can lead to serious underpayments and penalties.
- Wage theft scrutiny Fair Work audits within the sector are on the rise, increasing the financial and legal risks of payroll mistakes.
- Franchise & multi-store payroll management Small retailers and franchises often lack payroll expertise, making compliance even harder.
If you’re facing payroll challenges like these as part of your operations, reach out to the Audit My Payroll team – stay ahead of compliance challenges and reduce risk:
How Audit My Payroll helps
- Retail Award compliance audits Avoid fines by ensuring correct pay structures.
- Payroll risk assessments Identify gaps before they become legal issues.
- Automated payroll auditing Reduce admin burden and ensure accuracy.
Stay ahead of compliance challenges and reduce risk, book your obligation free demo or speak with the Audit My Payroll team today:
More questions? We’ve got FAQ’s galore, or you can ask us directly ….
Get the info you’re looking for before diving in – we’re all about helping you be in control of your payroll…
