Creating Ripples, Making Waves? Assessing the General Deterrence Effects of Enforcement Activities of the Fair Work Ombudsman

Abstract

This article draws on an empirical study of business responses to the regulation and enforcement of minimum employment standards in two discrete industry sectors in Australia: hairdressing and restaurants. The study aimed to critically assess the concept of general deterrence and explore key questions arising from calculative theories of compliance. In particular, this article considers the extent to which employer businesses were aware of the enforcement activities of the Fair Work Ombudsman (‘FWO’); the depth of this knowledge; and whether this knowledge affected business perceptions of enforcement risks and the subsequent compliance response. The article concludes that while firms may not..