Vue Group response to ABC
April 5, 2018
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Is it correct front-of-house staff at Vue de Monde are rostered to work or actually work between
50-60 hours a week, including nights and weekends, but are only compensated for 38-hours?
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Is it correct back-of-house staff at Vue de Monde are rostered to work or actually work between
60-80 hours a week, including nights and weekends, but are only compensated for 38-hours?
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Café Vue on St Kilda Rd closed on August 1st 2014, we have since changed payroll systems
so do not have these records at hand and cannot access today. We are happy to
investigate specific claims as a priority

Did staff at Café Vue on St Kilda Rd get reconciliation payments?
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Zero. It's important to note, to go above and beyond, any team member that works
excessive hours over a short period (hours that would not be picked up in an annual
review) is compensated with a days in lieu

Were staff at Café Vue on St Kilda Rd required to work in excess of 50-hours for 40-hours pay?
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We reconcile as part of our standard practice, per our legal obligations under the award.
Review of this is also part of our independent annual audit

At the end of the last financial year, how much was paid in reconciliations to staff who had
worked excess hours?
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Yes

At the end of the financial year, or when an employee on an annualised wage leaves the
company, do you do a reconciliation as required under the restaurant industry award?
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Vue Group Pty Ltd

Are the company directors aware of the hours staff work and the hours they are paid?
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This is absolutely incorrect. Team members on annualised salary are paid 25% above the
award (per the award flexibility provision) and are at times rostered to do reasonable
overtime. Our BOH team members are rostered, on average, significantly less than 60
hours per week. We cannot comment on individuals due to privacy obligations

Who is responsible for how employees are paid?
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This is absolutely incorrect. Team members on annualised salary are paid 25% above the
award (per the award flexibility provision) and are at times rostered to do reasonable
overtime. Our FOH team members are rostered, on average, significantly less than 50
hours per week. We cannot comment on individuals due to privacy obligations

No payments have been made

Did Vue group conduct any review or audit of staff wages after the Made Group’s audit resulted
in a self-referral to Fair Work Australia?
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Yes - although we strongly believe we are operating in line with our obligations, in pursuit
of best practice compliance we proactively engaged and continue to work with
independent auditor, who is currently undertaking a review. Results expected at the end
of April

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Preliminary feedback from the audit team is;

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Vue has well documented practices
Payment structures are above award
The proactive approach to award classification level is best practice

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In conjunction with this audit, Vue Group conducted training with Venue Managers and
Administration Team in 2017 to upskill their knowledge of award interpretations and
understand rostering obligations under law. This is all extensively documented

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All new employees and managers go through the above listed training sessions on
commencement of their roles

Other comments from Vue Group;
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Given the timing and venue you are referencing, we believe the complaint you are
addressing was not for an employee of Vue Group Pty Ltd

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We have no outstanding enquiries or complaints that were sent directly to us. We have
not been notified by Fair Work of any outstanding pay disputes or claims

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Since Vue Group Pty Ltd has been in operation, we have not been notified of any Fair
Work pay complaints or queries lodged with them

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At the award rate there is a provision for reasonable overtime. Any team member
employed at Vue Group on an annualised salary is payed a minimum 25% above award
rate

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We regularly engage fair work on any employment related questions. Our policy is to be
best practice on any employer obligations, exceeding them most times

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We always strongly encourage any employee who has questions about their pay to speak
directly to either their manager or arrange a confidential discussion with our People &
Culture team

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We work extremely hard to be best practice in this area and strongly dispute any
reference or indication that we are not abiding by our legal or moral obligations to our
people, who we value highly

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As with all companies at times there can be errors with payment, any payment error is
always rectified within 1 week after notification (next pay run) as our standard practice.
This is running with 100% compliance

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We will absolutely pay any outstanding amount we owe under our obligations
immediately