Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2022-12-16-core-strategies-penalty-media-release
At a glance
- Respondent
- Core Strategies Pty Ltd
- Penalty
- $36,000
- Employees affected
- 1
What happened
Core Strategies Pty Ltd, a former Gold Coast real estate lead generation company, and its former sole director, Stephen Thomas, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a failure to comply with a Compliance Notice issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The notice required the company to calculate and back-pay entitlements to a call centre worker employed between February and August 2020. The worker had requested assistance regarding potential underpayment of JobKeeper entitlements, accrued annual leave, and payment-in-lieu-of-notice.
What was decided
The Court imposed a $30,000 penalty on Core Strategies Pty Ltd and a $6,000 penalty on Stephen Thomas. The company was also ordered to comply with the Compliance Notice, including back-paying the worker all entitlements, superannuation, and interest. Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker stated that failing to act on Compliance Notices can result in court penalties. The investigation began after a worker requested assistance from the Fair Work Ombudsman.
What it means for employers
Employers must comply with Compliance Notices issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Failure to do so can result in significant financial penalties and the obligation to back-pay entitlements. Businesses should ensure they understand and fulfil their obligations regarding employee entitlements.
What it means for employees
Employees who believe they have been underpaid or are unsure about their workplace entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free advice and assistance. Interpreter services are available.
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This summary was drafted from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →