Grill’d has received more than $7 million in taxpayer handouts for a scheme critics say it uses to underpay young staff — dubbed “Hamburger University”.
The revelation comes as the workplace cop confirms it is investigating the healthy burger business, days after its founder Simon Crowe issued a panicked message to staff ahead of a “pending media story”Grill’d, which has previously come under fire for allegedly underpaying workers, requires new employees to undertake compulsory retail and hospitality training programs.
“ was really, really easy — literally like four hours’ work — it took me almost two years to get it completed,” one former Grill’d employee told news.com.au. “A lot of the was for the servery . I was stuck on the floor for the first one-and-a-half years, never in the kitchen. There would always be excuses.”
The mother said the scheme was ‘corporate welfare’. “We called it Hamburger University. It’s just outrageous. put them on a traineeship, collect from the government and pays them $14.50 and hour.” “Grill’d’s 2015 enterprise agreement applies to our restaurant teams and is approved by the Fair Work Commission,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said nearly all entry-level staff were required to do the traineeship before the 2015 agreement, but that now only 31 per cent of all staff were trainees.She said trainees take 13 months to complete the traineeship, on average.A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesman confirmed the watchdog was “conducting inquiries in relation to Grill’d”.
“The net cost to Grill’d of running the traineeship program as it relates to government subsidies has averaged in excess of $450,000 each year over the last three years,” she said. “We are committed to training an additional 80,000 apprentices and trainees over the next five years. An apprenticeship or traineeship is a great way to get a head start in a chosen career by providing a nationally recognised qualification and delivers on-the-job experience, enabling students to earn while they learn.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Second London terror attack victim a volunteer who 'always saw the best in people'University graduate Saskia Jones was volunteering at a prisoner rehabilitation conference when she stabbed to death.
Read more »
Australian GPs admit prescribing 'active placebos' — real drugs that won't helpAlmost four out of five doctors do it and say it's because patients expect a treatment.
Read more »
'We must do better': Labor backs royal commission into veteran deathsAnthony Albanese is backing calls for a royal commission into veterans taking their own lives.
Read more »
Three days after almost chopping off his thumb this 27yo is still waiting for surgeryA carpenter who almost tore off his thumb has endured hunger and fear as he spent a third day waiting for emergency surgery at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Read more »
Snow falling in the Alps on second day of summerIt's the first week of summer and rather than sunshine and heat, it's snowing. 9News
Read more »
Apostrophe Protection Society closes it's doorsA UK society dedicated to upholding the correct use of the apostrophe has shut down.
Read more »