North and central Queensland club managers have been put on notice by the Fair Work (FW) ombudsman after employees were found to have been underpaid almost $350,000 in the past two years.
FW ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell said 52 clubs had underpaid 890 employees $141,000 in 2008 and this year 59 clubs had underpaid 1100 employees $206,000.
The largest amount recovered for a single employee was $20,000 in central inland Queensland.
He said repeat offenders risked legal action and urged them to use an information line to double-check their obligations.
"We have a flexible, fair approach and our preference is always to work with employers to educate them and help them voluntarily rectify any non-compliance issues we identify," Mr Campbell said.
"Fortunately in this latest campaign, the clubs have co-operated and all outstanding entitlements have been voluntarily reimbursed to employees.
More than 80 sports, RSL and community clubs in the Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and South-West regions were scrutinised by FW inspectors over the past eight months.
He said employers who failed to take their responsibilities seriously faced penalties of up to $33,000 per breach.
"We have 200 highly-skilled advisers ready to answer employer's questions if they pick up the phone and call our national Infoline on 13 13 94," he said.
Mr Campbell said clubs had paid incorrect wage rates and had not paid correct overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates.
The worst offender was a club in the Townsville region which had underpaid its staff $40,000.
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