7-ELEVEN ASSERTS FACTS AROUND WAGE REPAYMENT PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGES CLAIMANTS TO COME FORWARD

Tuesday 30 August 2016

The 7-Eleven Wage Repayment Program is operating to ensure any current or former employees of 7-Eleven franchisees who have legitimate claims for underpayment of wages receive their due entitlements as quickly as possible.
The Wage Repayment Program is processing claims and paying claimants at a faster rate than the previous process, in line with its public commitments.
Claimants and potential claimants should not be discouraged from pursuing claims as a result of reports published over the weekend in Fairfax Media, which in 7-Eleven’s view contained inaccurate comments and inferences about the use of private investigators to verify claims and the types of evidence required to support a claim. The facts are:
· There is no requirement for claimants who submit a claim to the Wage Repayment Program to meet with private investigators in order to progress a claim, and
· There is no requirement for claimants to provide multiple pay slips in order to progress a claim.
The process has been designed to be as simple as possible for claimants. The independent Secretariat, managed by Deloitte and oversees the Program requires only basic threshold information to commence processing a claim, which is:
· certified proof of identity and
· completion of a standard form, outlining what hours an individual is claiming to have worked whilst being underpaid.
No visa information is required for the processing of a claim. The independent Secretariat treats the confidentiality of claimants and potential claimants as its first priority.
In the interests of openness and transparency, the operating protocols of the Program have been shared with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and updates on the progress of the WRP and 7-Eleven’s broader reform agenda are regularly shared with the FWO and other stakeholders.
Claimants can be assured that 7-Eleven is unwavering in its commitment to the Wage Repayment Program so that franchisee staff receive their entitlements in a fair, efficient, consistent and timely manner. Any suggestions to the contrary are false.
Franchisee employees who have lodged a claim or are considering lodging a claim and need support or have any questions are encouraged to contact the independent Secretariat on 1800 619 802 or www.wagerepaymentprogram.com.au.