Unpaid wages

You clocked in. Your pay didn't.

Unpaid wages, final pay, super or leave entitlements can be pursued under the Fair Work Act's small claims procedure in a local or magistrates court. Start with a firm letter — many employers pay as soon as it's on paper.

Start a unpaid wages claim

Sounds familiar?

Final pay never arrived
Unpaid overtime or penalty rates
Cash-in-hand job that 'forgot' the last fortnight

Evidence checklist

Payslips / bank depositskey
Rosters, timesheets or hours logkey
Employment contract or offer
Messages with themkey

Watch out for

Fair Work small claims has its own limit and rules — our detector flags this.
Unfair dismissal is a different process with a 21-day deadline at the Fair Work Commission.

Where it usually goes

Fair Work small claims in your state's local / magistrates court (industrial).

NSW guide VIC guide QLD guide SA guide WA guide TAS guide ACT guide NT guide

Questions

Should I go to the Fair Work Ombudsman instead?

You can do both. The FWO can help for free, but if you want to file yourself, the small claims process is designed for it.

Stop being nice about it.

Build your case free in about 10 minutes. Letter of demand first, statement of claim and court pack if they ignore it. Court-ready from $99 incl. GST.

Start my court case