The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Rainbow Wholefoods Pty Ltd in Lismore for unfairly dismissing two workers.
Company director and shareholder Anthony Stillone will face court for allegedly breaching Fair Work Commission orders by failing to compensate the workers.
In April 2021, it was found the company unfairly dismissed a manager and a shop assistant who had worked for the business since 2015 and 2018 respectively.
The Fair Work Commission ordered the company to pay $31,280 to the manager and $19,687.20 compensation to the shop assistant within three weeks.
The former employees did not receive the payments and informed the Fair Work Ombudsman which is now taking further action.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman is clearly prepared to take legal action to ensure that employees receive compensation they are lawfully entitled to,” says Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker.
Rainbow Wholefoods has failed to comply with two orders and now faces penalties of up to $66,600 per contravention, with Stillone facing up to $13,320 in penalties per contravention.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking a court order for the company to pay outstanding compensation plus interest to the workers.
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