Michael Hill underpayed staff up to $25 million

Michael Hill has dudded its workers out of tens of millions of dollars in pay. The jewellery chain with over 300 stores is the latest in a string of big companies caught underpaying its employees.

John Dagge,
Herald Sun

Michael Hill International has become the latest major company to report it has been underpaying staff.

The jewellery chain has fessed up to short-changing staff up to $25 million over a six-year period.

Michael Hill joins a list of major corporates including Qantas Airways, Rebel-owner Super Retail Group and cosmetics chain Lush which announced over the past year they have underpaid employees.

The Brisbane-based jewellery retailer says a review by PricewaterhouseCoopers of employee contracts and rosters had discovered some of its Australian store employees had been short-changed.

It did not say how many.

The company has now commenced a more detailed review, expected to take several months, but estimates staff have missed out on between $10 million and $25 million.

Michael Hill operates more than 300 stores across Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Chief executive Daniel Bracken, who took over the role in November, said the retailer was contacting all staff to apologise and outline a process to promptly pay those affected.

“We will move as quickly as possible to rectify any underpayments with those team members affected,” the former Myer executive said.

“I’m committed to engaging with our team members transparently and with absolute integrity and fairness.

“When we identified there was an issue, I mobilised a team, supported by independent external experts, to determine the scale of the problem, identify the individuals affected and to ensure full compliance with the award going forward.”