Rockpool Dining Group responds to pay allegations
Read the full statement here.
Rockpool Dining Group (RDG) has released a statement following reports of the company allegedly underpaying and overworking staff members.
RDG Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash said:
“We strenuously refute allegations about Rockpool Dining Group’s payment practices. Current media reports are based on questionable documents we were neither permitted to review nor validate.
“These allegations are spurious, inaccurate and give an incomplete picture of our practices.
“The fact is we operate well within compliance requirements, including asking our permanent employees to scan in and scan out so we can monitor their hours.
“Our payroll and time and attendance systems register 38 hours per week as per our staff employment agreements. It also registers actual hours worked so we can reasonably monitor hours, manage rosters, assign days off in lieu and pay overtime, which is paid in line with annualized award rates.”
RDG Culinary Director Neil Perry added:
“We care about our staff. Rockpool Dining Group offers many Australians as well as employees on working visas fantastic opportunities to learn and grow their skills in the restaurant sector.
“We offer a great training ground and we are proud of the work we do and proud of the fantastic teams we have working in our restaurants around the country. It’s a sad day when a few people try to undermine the amazing work of so many who contribute to making our restaurants great; especially when we operate fully within the employment laws of this country.”
Pash commented:
“Our permanent employees are remunerated in line with, and in many cases well above, the industry award. They receive annualised salaries, and our practices clearly outline employee compensation for overtime, including time off in lieu.
“Where an employee is working unreasonable overtime we will work with that person to pull back their hours and reassign them shifts to manage better their time in line with their role.
“We also have mechanisms in place to review and reconcile annual pay.
“We have an open-door policy at Rockpool Dining Group and will continue to assist individuals who believe they have worked too many hours or who we flag as having to cut back on their hours.
”Rockpool Dining Group actively assists those on working visas apply for permanent residency. The Group has a 100% support rate for employees in good standing. Currently more than 45 employees are being supported in their application for permanent residency.
