Hospitality workers in Victoria will now be able to rate their employers through a new app developed by a union group. RateMyBoss allows workers to anonymously review past and present employers and rate them based on their treatment and pay to staff.
Two weeks ago, trade union United Voice released a survey on Victorian hospitality workers. It showed that of the 624 workers canvassed, 76% said they were underpaid, 35% said they were paid cash and 51% reported working unpaid hours.
United Voice Victorian Secretary, Jess Walsh, says underpaying staff has become a part of the business model in the hospitality industry:
"Young workers often feel too frightened to speak out, our new site- RateMyBoss.org.au- gives them to tools to turn the tables on their employers, and to hold them accountable for their behaviour."
Ms Walsh says United Voice's recent survey showed international students and people on working holiday visas are at what she described as the "pointy end" of wage theft and abuse in hospitality: "Often employers will threaten them, that if they do speak out about the abuses and what' going on, that they will be reported to immigration and they might lose their ability to work in Australia."
The issue of underpayment of employees has been highlighted by a case involving top Melbourne restaurant Chin Chin. A former bartender there, Sorcha Harrop, took the popular eatery to court, claiming unpaid overtime and superannuation. Ms Harrap has now withdrawn her legal claim after Chin Chin agreed to pay her nine and a half thousand dollars. The former bartender said it's time the culture around underpaying hospitality workers changed.
For now, RateMyBoss will operate exclusively in Victoria. But United Voice has hopes the website can turn the tables on bad employers around the nation.
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