Fair Work Ombudsman
Citation: FWO-2024-08-02-pure-telecom-penalty-media-release
At a glance
- Respondent
- Pure Telecom Pty Ltd
- Penalty
- $30,548
- Employees affected
- 1
- Awards cited
- MA000065
What happened
Pure Telecom Pty Ltd, trading as VMCN Solutions, and its sole director, Steven Joseph Woods, failed to back-pay entitlements to a full-time IT professional employed between November 2014 and July 2017. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after a worker requested assistance. A Compliance Notice was issued in May 2022 regarding underpayment of minimum wages and accrued annual leave. The company partially back-paid the worker after the Compliance Notice and legal proceedings began.
What was decided
The Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed a $7,000 penalty on Pure Telecom and $1,400 on Steven Joseph Woods for failing to comply with the Compliance Notice. The court also ordered Pure Telecom to back-pay the worker $22,148 plus superannuation. Judge Robert Cameron found the underpayments significant relative to the worker’s salary. The Fair Work Ombudsman emphasised the consequences of ignoring Compliance Notices.
What it means for employers
Employers must comply with Compliance Notices issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Failure to do so can result in substantial penalties and back-pay orders. Businesses should review their payroll practices and seek advice if unsure about their obligations.
What it means for employees
Employees who believe they are underpaid or have not received proper entitlements should contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free advice and assistance. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides resources and courses to help employers understand Compliance Notices.
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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