Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2023-07-21-design-wolf-penalty-media-release
At a glance
- Respondent
- Design Wolf Solutions Pty Ltd
- Penalty
- $30,000
- Employees affected
- 1
What happened
Design Wolf Solutions Pty Ltd, a construction and home maintenance company in Brisbane, and its director, Brenton John Bound, failed to comply with a Fair Work Ombudsman Compliance Notice. The notice related to unpaid entitlements for an adult apprentice builder employed between August 2020 and May 2021. The worker, aged 23 at the time of employment, contacted the Fair Work Ombudsman for assistance. The company underpaid annual leave entitlements.
What was decided
The Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed a $25,000 penalty on Design Wolf Solutions and a $5,000 penalty on Brenton John Bound. The court ordered Design Wolf Solutions to back-pay the worker’s outstanding entitlements plus interest. The judge found the respondents showed 'utter contempt' for the Compliance Notice. The Fair Work Ombudsman can take legal action when Compliance Notices are not followed.
What it means for employers
Employers must take Compliance Notices seriously and engage with the Fair Work Ombudsman to resolve issues. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties and back-payment obligations. Directors can also be held personally liable.
What it means for employees
Employees who believe they are underpaid or have concerns about their entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free assistance. The FWO offers interpreters and resources for small businesses.
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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 →