by Ben Desir, Workplace Advisor, NRA Legal Concerning reports of 7-Eleven employees being forced to pay back parts of their wages have come to light. Recent media reports suggest that franchisees of the embattled 7-Eleven brand, have continued to flout their employment law obligations. Workers have spoken to media outlets claiming that their employers have […]
This week will we see the final release of trade data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics before the Christmas and Boxing Day trading period. It should give us a clearer indication of how consumer sentiment is tracking as we move into the most important month of the year for retail. An analysis released by […]
7-Eleven convenience chain has categorically denied claims by NSW Labor that is has paid no payroll tax for at least three financial years. A freedom of information (FOI) request revealed 7-Eleven is not registered for payroll tax in the state, according to NSW Labor. “7-Eleven engaged in the biggest wage-theft scandal in Australian history, it […]
Embroiled convenience chain 7-Eleven has reacted to new claims of worker exploitation after revelations that the Fair Work Ombudsman is considering further legal action. While 7 Eleven has made efforts to change, including adapting its business model, changes to senior management and setting up compensation schemes to underpaid workers, new evidence has emerged that workers […]
There were two major developments in retail this week which show just how volatile our sector can be, and how challenging the environment remains for retail business owners. The first was the seemingly inevitable announcement that the Masters hardware chain would close its doors before the end of the year. Although it can be argued […]
7-Eleven shop owners aren’t the only employers short-changing staff and deliberately ignoring workers’ rights. A Malaysian restaurant in inner Sydney was last week fined almost $300,000 for using false records to disguise wage underpayments. Six staff members at the Mamak restaurant, five of which were visa-holders, were paid as little as $11 an hour between […]
In light of the recent election results, the Coalition is set to make dramatic changes to businesses engaging in wage fraud. With $20 million worth of funding, the Coalition is set to introduce a policy which will clamp down on wage fraud nationally, alongside new penalties which will be 10 times higher than the current […]
A recent decision in the Federal Circuit Court is one of the latest episodes in the ongoing 7-Eleven wages saga. Federal Circuit Court Judge, Michael Jarrett, saw fit to impose the largest penalty ever ordered for an action brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman on the operator of 7-Eleven franchise. Judge Jarrett, found that the […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against another 7-Eleven franchisee for underpaying 12 employees. Couple Haiyao Xu and Yiran Gu, who operated a 7-Eleven store in Parkville Melbourne, were found to have underpaid staff by over $84,000 while building up a near $3 million property portfolio. Judge Suzanne Jones said, “There can be […]
On Monday 20th June, the Federal Circuit Court imposed a record penalty of over $400,000 against a West End 7-Eleven store that systematically exploited employees. As Judge Jarrett found the 7-Eleven franchisee had shown “contemptuous disregard” for Australian workplace law and deceiving the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), he handed down record penalties of $340,290 to […]
The media attention surrounding the 7-Eleven chain last year was a wake-up call for the entire retail industry. At the time, the National Retail Association urged all retailers to ensure they understood and were actively complying with their obligations to employees in relation to pay rates and conditions. This week the former head of the […]
Details of the Coalition’s plan for a strong new economy have been revealed including a policy to protect vulnerable workers following the recent 7-Eleven wages scandal. The controversy and issues surrounding the exploitation of staff at 7-Eleven has demonstrated the need to strengthen existing laws. More specifically, this saga has exposed a widespread practice amongst […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman has handed down a record fine of over $200,000 to the owner of a Sydney 7-Eleven after they found he had short-changed two migrant employees and falsified records. The penalties were the largest delivered as a warning to others who may be tempted or engaging in similar conduct. In late 2015 […]
NSW and Queensland governments are both looking at banning plastic shopping bags. This issue has long been debated by governments over the years. Some of Australia’s less populous states and territories have already implemented bans of certain types of plastic bags. Bans are a blunt policy response to most problems but, of course, proponents for banning bags […]