By Victoria Hansen and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) released its findings on Degani Bakery and Café (Degani) Compliance Activity (Activity) last week, finding non-compliance at 15 out of 16 Degani outlets operating under either a licensee or franchisee arrangement with Degani Australia Pty Ltd. Background The FWO commenced the Activity […]
By Alexander Millman and Angela Szczepanski, NRA Legal FWO v MHoney Pty Ltd & Anor [2016] FCCA 2959 In November last year, Judge Burchardt of the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne found that MHoney Pty Ltd and its director, Mr Abdulrahman Taleb, had deliberately engaged in multiple serious and deliberate contraventions of the Fair Work […]
by Ben Desir, Workplace Advisor, NRA Legal Concerning reports of 7-Eleven employees being forced to pay back parts of their wages have come to light. Recent media reports suggest that franchisees of the embattled 7-Eleven brand, have continued to flout their employment law obligations. Workers have spoken to media outlets claiming that their employers have […]
Embroiled convenience chain 7-Eleven has reacted to new claims of worker exploitation after revelations that the Fair Work Ombudsman is considering further legal action. While 7 Eleven has made efforts to change, including adapting its business model, changes to senior management and setting up compensation schemes to underpaid workers, new evidence has emerged that workers […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman, Natalie James, made an announcement at a recent Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) briefing that put employers and advisers on notice when complying with workplace laws and regulations. New penalties have been implemented to fine individuals who are involved in facilitating a breach of the law as accessories. Before recently, Fair […]
In light of the recent election results, the Coalition is set to make dramatic changes to businesses engaging in wage fraud. With $20 million worth of funding, the Coalition is set to introduce a policy which will clamp down on wage fraud nationally, alongside new penalties which will be 10 times higher than the current […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) declared the Director of security company ‘Step Ahead Security Services’ had deliberately underpaid eight casual employees hired as security guards by over $20,000 over a three-month period. The Director was ordered to personally repay the employees as well as paying penalties of over $50,000 with the FWO hailing this case […]
Franchises have come under increased scrutiny as law firm Maurice Blackburn calls for tighter regulation and tougher laws to force franchisors to account for franchisees that underpay workers. Maurice Blackburn Employment Principal, Josh Bornstein has said that regulators must do more to prevent “franchisors turning a blind eye to systematic wage fraud undertaken across their […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman has handed down a record fine of over $200,000 to the owner of a Sydney 7-Eleven after they found he had short-changed two migrant employees and falsified records. The penalties were the largest delivered as a warning to others who may be tempted or engaging in similar conduct. In late 2015 […]