Operators also knowingly issued false, misleading payslips
The operators of a finance and mortgage-broking company in Sydney have been penalised a total of $117,190 for failing to back-pay three employees and knowingly issuing false or misleading payslips.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court penalised the Pyrmont-based First Step Finance Pty Ltd, as well as its sole director and secretary, David Brian Ward.
The penalties were imposed after First Step Finance breached the Fair Work Act by failing to comply with three Compliance Notices requiring it to back-pay three employees and by knowingly issuing two of the workers false or misleading payslips.
The three employees were underpaid accrued but untaken annual leave entitlements owed at the end of their employment, while two of them were also underpaid their minimum wages for ordinary hours.
Judge Robert Cameron said First Step Finance had failed to back-pay two of the three underpaid employees anything at all.
First Step Finance received a penalty of $97,710, while Ward received $19,480 for his involvement in the contraventions.
"Given that the respondents' failures in that regard are considerable and persistent, it is important that a message be sent to others that such conduct will not go unaddressed by the Court," Cameron said.
First Step Finance is also ordered to back-pay the employees their outstanding entitlements.
"When Compliance Notices are not followed, we will continue to take legal action to protect employees. Employers who fail to act on these notices risk substantial penalties and back-pay orders," said Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth in a statement.
