Top Federal government offices in Brisbane City, Australia

Useless clearly underpaid redundancy and entitlements and took no action.

These guys just take the word of the employer and don’t use evidence from the government that an underpayment has occurred.

Fair Work Ombudsman seems unwilling to help some people who are experiencing a sham contract. I talked with both Job watch and the officer from FWO Assessment Team, even though they know I am in a sham contract, they don’t want to help me. And...I was directly been told “this is very common in Cleaning companies..., but, sorry...I cannot help you” ...

This number for the FWO is apparently not taking calls.. ever. Tried contacting them 3 times in the span of a year for different reasons - Email or call - No response. Ombudsman in Fair Work seems to need KIND, UNDERSTANDING and RESPECTFUL staff. Not the ones currently employed, obviously not helping anyone reaching out.

The FWO removed my scathing review. A useless organisation and most of the staff are incompetent, hence they shouldn't be in those roles. They are essentially getting money fraudulently if they cannot do their jobs properly and haven't asked for assistance via email to get better training. They wouldn't help me get back thousands of dollars from one employer and I also had issues with a 2nd employer underpaying. The investigators couldn't comprehend the clauses of the EBA and in the 2nd case an Award. And they refused to ask for necessary information from the employers. I was rotated around 11FWO staff members who covered one anothers backs, while I was trying to get my back pay. The head of the FWO should be removed and replaced, as she was put in by the Liberals to my understanding and is not doing a great job, at helping Australians get their backpays. I was told this by someone involved with the unions, and someone from a law firm said the FWO use to better run prior to the current head being put in place. Wish I didn't have to put any stars at all. Suggest people write to Anthony Albanese, the head of the Greens, Advance Australia and even Pauline Hanson. If we cannot get our back pay then the government misses out on our taxes which is needed for hospitals, schools etc.

Useless department. I didn't even get a penny back after lodging for more than 1 year 3 months and this week emailed me that not proceeding the Compliance Notice towards my X-employer. What a "FAIR WORK" - wasting tax payer money.

Essentially just a call centre that's trained to tell people they can't help you. Like another has said, waste of tax payer money. Doesn't ensure our community is treated fairly at work at all. The reps don't know anything outside of the vague information on their website, so don't bother wasting your time calling/enquiring

FWO is dysfunctional! The FWO investigators take the word of the employer over the employee who has been ripped off. I needed and need my money to pay for medical expenses and they were aware of this, and my health is seriously declining. The FWO should be asking employers for proof of what they are saying. They don't even have the nouse to look at the EBA and decide on what should have been paid and get the right pay rate per hour the first time. Or alternatively they are giving out their opinions in some cases, rather than giving the right legal answer. Staff don't read correspondence and respond appropriately either. Like on the 21/4/21 when I rang they refused to answer my questions, then I was transferred onto a supervisor who would not answer my 2 questions either.
instead she gave me the email address for the FWO feedback because she knew that I was annoyed at them not even attempting to answer my questions, and they are hoping that complaints will stay internal so that staff can cover one another's backs. Instead I suggest people contact Anthony Albanese and his office will forward their message through to the appropriate Minister. There needs to be a big shake up in the FWO. If you give feedback to the FWO all they will do is come up with answers to cover up their ineptness before a Minister contacts them potentially and waste your time. They also ask you to provide a lot of information then they claim that you are not owed any back pay even if you are, then they tell you to go through the Small Claims. I found they did the maximum to frustrate me. They couldn't have cared less that I was owed over $4000, just so long as they have jobs themselves. They lack empathy with employees that have been ripped off. Then also too, they don't collect evidence when the employer has been dodgy or ask approrpriate questions, so then you realise that they have no intention of taking them to court. Why have such a useless organisation that is not effective. The employees of the FWO are declaring wages fraudulently for not doing their jobs properly. If we cannot get back our wages, the government gets less taxes. I will be contacting Jim Chalmers re. this matter. And if that doesn't work The Greens because the Liberal party couldn't care less. I have previously contacted them. if you have an issue with the FWO (because there has already been a Royal Commission into wage theft and nothing much has improved - I am wondering how many suggestions have been legislated) keep the names of the FWO staff who have not been helpful and mention them so they can be weeded out. Keep the evidence - that's really important. Either these employees don't have the right attitude, are highly stressed, don't get adequate training or/and are corrupt or they are trying to meet KPI by cutting people off from getting the help they need. A FWO investigator and another staff member with industrial relations training couldn't even get my correct hourly base rate correct. They hinder employees rather than help hardworking people. They also embolden employers by giving them a false sense of security when they give out wrong information and don't ask for proof from them. Not surprised to see so many negative reviews. Anyone who has a problem with this government department needs to spend a little bit of their time (maybe one evening) to write to Anthony Albanese to get anything done. Make it clear to Anthony Albanese that the Greens have been contacted to, so that he's more inclined to do something positive re. this situation. Give suggestions in the letter too. Keep a copy of the letter and consider going to the media if things haven't improved 6 months down the track. We need to work collectively to get the FWO improved.