The operators of a tavern have been penalised $19,500 and a Company Director $3000 for underpaying a venue manager $6759 in Personal Leave and accrued Annual Leave in 2011.
Most of the underpayment was the result of a failure by the company to pay-out the manager’s accrued annual leave entitlements in full after she resigned and their failure to pay the manager for nine days of personal leave, even though she had provided a medical certificate.
The company also made unlawful deductions from the manager’s wages to cover the cost of a training course and unlawfully imposed a ‘penalty for late notice’ when she resigned, despite the manager providing a notice period that satisfied award requirements.
The Commissioner stated that “Paying workers correctly on termination of employment is just as important as ensuring they receive their full entitlements while they are working.
Termination entitlements play a vital supporting role for workers while they attempt to pick themselves up, find a new job and get back on their feet, and we are prepared to take enforcement action where necessary to ensure these entitlements are paid in full.”