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Designing HR-Led Wage Compliance Frameworks

Master the strategic design of wage compliance frameworks to navigate new Australian regulations, execute payroll remediation, and safeguard your business against criminal liability.

Created byWorkSafe People & Compliance
BeginnerUpdated Jan 26, 2026

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleNavigate new criminal wage theft laws.
  • check_circleApply the Voluntary Small Business Code.
  • check_circleStructure a model Payroll Remediation Program.
  • check_circleCalculate entitlements and interest correctly.
  • check_circleManage self-reporting to the Ombudsman.
  • check_circleEmbed long-term wage compliance governance.

About This Course

In the evolving Australian regulatory landscape, ensuring accurate employee payment has transcended simple administrative duty to become a critical governance requirement. With legislative changes effective from 1 January 2025 introducing criminal penalties for intentional wage theft, organizations of all sizes must adopt rigorous strategies to mitigate risk and ensure fairness. This course, Designing HR-Led Wage Compliance Frameworks, offers a comprehensive analysis of the Fair Work Ombudsman's compliance requirements, tailored specifically for both small businesses seeking statutory protection and large enterprises managing systemic remediation.

The curriculum begins by addressing the distinct operational context of small business employers. We will dissect the new criminal offence for intentional underpayments and examine how eligible employers can access the protections of the Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code. You will learn to navigate jurisdictional exceptions, maintain compliant time and wages records, and utilize resources like the Employer Advisory Service. This section emphasizes practical steps to rectify genuine mistakes and safeguard your business status against severe penalties.

Moving to the complex challenges faced by medium and large enterprises, the course provides a deep dive into planning and executing a Payroll Remediation Program (PRP). We explore the ten key features of a model PRP, guiding you through the discovery and diagnosis of systemic payroll issues. You will gain technical insights into developing calculation methodologies, interpreting industrial instruments, managing data gaps through reasonable assumptions, and ensuring an employee-centric approach to back-payments and interest calculations.

Finally, we cover the critical protocols for engaging with regulators and future-proofing your organization. This includes strategies for self-reporting non-compliance, navigating assurance reviews with the Fair Work Ombudsman, and handling commercially sensitive information. By the end of this course, you will possess the technical knowledge to:

  • Navigate the 2025 legislative changes regarding the criminalisation of intentional underpayments.
  • Apply the Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code to mitigate prosecution risks.
  • Design and implement a comprehensive Payroll Remediation Program for systemic compliance issues.
  • Conduct rigorous data diagnosis and develop defensible calculation methodologies for lost entitlements.
  • Manage communications with affected employees and the Fair Work Ombudsman effectively.
  • Establish robust governance structures and upgrade payroll technology to ensure sustainable, long-term compliance.

Course Content

6 activities • 25 videos • duration: 1h 36m

  • videocamWelcome & Course Overview
    Duration 2:59
  • videocamUnderstanding the Criminal Offence of Underpayment
    Duration 2:19
  • videocamScope and Exceptions to the Criminal Offence
    Duration 3:19
  • videocamAccessing Code Protections
    Duration 3:26

Your Instructor

WorkSafe People & Compliance

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WorkSafe People & Compliance delivers practical CPD for HR professionals working at the intersection of wellbeing, psychosocial risk, and employment compliance. Our programs support HR teams in Australia and New Zealand to manage mental health, fair work obligations, and regulatory risk with confidence and care.

Credit Information

Professional development requirements vary by profession, country, and regulatory body. Before enrolling, review the course details and confirm that the content, learning format, and any listed credits meet your specific requirements. You are responsible for confirming eligibility with your regulator or professional association and keeping the records required for reporting.

What Students Are Saying

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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