Major supermarket Woolworths is facing more than 1000 charges over allegedly underpaying more than $1 million in long service leave to former workers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wage Inspectorate Victoria has filed the charges in the Magistrates' Court against Woolworths Group and its subsidiary Woolstar.
It's alleged it failed to pay more than $1 million in long service leave to 1,235 former employees.
The underpayments range from $250 to more than $12,000, according to the wages watchdog.
The charges related to conduct by the supermarket between 2018 and 2021 that contravened Victoria's Long Service Leave Act 2018.
A Woolworths spokesman said the group self-reported "discrete instances of potential non compliance" to Wage Inspectorate Victoria in February 2022 following a review of its payroll systems and processes.
"We have since made back payments or corrected leave balances to affected team members, including interest and superannuation," the spokesman said.
"We have apologised to affected team members and strengthened our payroll systems to address the long service leave issues we identified.
"As this matter is now before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further."
IN OTHER NEWS:
In Victoria employees who have worked with one employer for at least seven years are entitled to long service leave, even if that work is casual or seasonal.
"Victorians expect businesses with significant payroll resources to get this stuff right," Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria Robert Hortle said.
"They'd be disappointed to see a household name facing underpayment allegations.
"Long service leave is a long standing, valued workplace entitlement in Victoria and the Wage Inspectorate is here to ensure it is paid when it is owed."
The Wage Inspectorate also has cases open against Optus, Commsec and BankWest before the court alleging breaches of Victoria's long service leave laws.
