A common pitfall for private practices is when staff miss or stop submitting timesheets, particularly if they work set hours. This may seem harmless – after all, they are still working, and you are still paying them – however the risk to your practice is real.
As a specialist in private practice, you are also an employer and thus have legal obligations under workforce law. The reality is that without accurate and complete payroll records for each of your staff – from your receptionists to your practice nurses – it is extremely difficult for you to be able to defend any claims of underpayment and other breaches.
Under Section 557C of the Fair Work Act, the burden of proof falls to you to disprove any allegations.
You have a legal duty to keep payroll records for each employee for 7 years, including details about their pay, leave dates, superannuation and hours of work. Doing so is vital for ensuring your private practice is above board and compliant.
So, when a staff member does not provide a timesheet, the practice has, by extension, neglected to meet their legal duty.
Establishing clear, consistent timesheet processes is not just good practice management, but also essential protection for your practice, your staff and, ultimately, your professional reputation.
If you need assistance with payroll or creating a payroll policy, contact us: admin@roomswithstyle.com.au or 1300 073 239