How frontline organisations can prevent award breaches and wage underpayments with workforce management tech

For frontline workers, pay isn’t just a number on a pay slip — it’s rent, groceries, school fees, and peace of mind. That’s why wage underpayments, whether accidental or deliberate, hit harder than almost any other workplace issue. And it’s why news stories about underpaid employees continue to resonate across industries, from Retail and Hospitality to Healthcare, Aged Care, and Childcare & Early Learning.

Most recently it was Australia’s two largest supermarket chains that came under fire — and highlighted how widespread this issue potentially is.

When staff discover they’ve been underpaid, trust is broken. For many, even small errors create stress, financial strain, and disengagement. For businesses, that loss of trust translates into higher turnover, reputational damage, and rising costs.

The reality is that most underpayments are not intentional. Instead, they stem from the sheer complexity of Australia’s workplace laws. But intent matters little when pay packets come up short. With new laws criminalising deliberate wage theft, the pressure is on all organisations to get pay right — every time.

Why frontline workers are most affected by underpayments

Frontline staff are more vulnerable to wage errors than salaried office workers. Why?

• They often work variable shifts — evenings, weekends, and public holidays — where penalty rates and allowances apply

• They may be casual employees, moving between employers or agencies, with entitlements that can be overlooked

• They rely on timely, accurate pay to cover immediate living expenses. A single incorrect payslip can create significant financial stress

• They usually have limited visibility of payroll calculations and award rules, leaving them dependent on employers to get it right

The hidden cost of underpayments for businesses

When frontline workers are underpaid, the impact is immediate and personal. But businesses also suffer:

• Employee disengagement: Workers who feel cheated — even accidentally — are less motivated to deliver quality service

• High turnover: Frontline industries already face skills shortages. Underpayment drives staff to competitors who offer security and fairness

• Reputational damage: Stories of wage breaches quickly spread among customers and prospective employees

• Compliance risk: Backpay orders, fines, and legal costs can drain budgets that could otherwise be invested in staff or growth

Underpayments often result from systemic issues such as manual rostering or outdated payroll systems. For businesses, the solution lies not in working harder, but in working smarter — through technology that takes the complexity out of award compliance.

How workforce management technology protects frontline workers and businesses

Workforce management (WFM) solutions bridge the gap between complex awards and the lived reality of frontline staff. By automating compliance, they ensure that employees are paid correctly and fairly, while freeing businesses from the risks and admin of manual interpretation.

Here’s how Humanforce’s WFM solutions can help:

Automated award interpretation

Humanforce Awards & Compliance applies award rules instantly and accurately, so breaches relating to mandated penalty rates, overtime, and allowances are more difficult to overlook. For frontline staff, this means confidence that every shift is valued correctly — and for businesses, this means fewer disputes and greater compliance confidence.

Real-time compliance alerts

With Humanforce Rostering & Scheduling, managers see warnings if a shift breaches conditions, like insufficient breaks or maximum hours. This protects worker wellbeing as well as compliance, ensuring staff aren’t overworked while businesses avoid breaches.

Accurate time capture

Humanforce Time & Attendance prevents errors by recording the exact hours frontline staff work. Using mobile apps, kiosks, or biometric systems, it ensures employees are paid for every minute worked, with no unpaid overtime or misaligned rosters.

Transparency for staff

Through the Humanforce Work App, employees can see their rosters, timesheets, and leave balances in real time. This visibility gives frontline workers reassurance that what they see on their timesheet matches what lands in their bank account.

More accurate pay

The benefit of an integrated HCM suite like Humanforce is that all areas of people management are covered. For example, the pay conditions engine that drives our Awards & Compliance solution links directly to Humanforce’s own Payroll solution, while APIs integrate Humanforce WFM with more than 100 payroll software providers. This closes the loop and helps to ensure that pay is compliant, no matter the payroll solution used.

Taking a proactive approach

Award breaches and wage underpayments won’t disappear overnight. Human and process errors will always occur. But businesses that take a proactive approach — using technology to automate compliance and protect workers — are more likely to avoid the costs of getting it wrong.

About Humanforce

Humanforce is the all-in-one platform for frontline and flexible workforces, offering a truly employee centred, intelligent and compliant human capital management (HCM) suite – without compromise. Founded in 2002, Humanforce has a 2300+ customer base and over half a million users worldwide. Today, we have offices across Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK.

Our vision is to make work easier and life better by focusing on the needs and fulfilment of frontline workers, and the efficiency and optimisation of businesses.

To learn more about how Humanforce’s solution can help automate people processes in your business, please contact us.