Australia’s Workplace Ombudsman is taking on a Donut King franchisee who allegedly tried to force an employee onto an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA).
It’s alleged the Donut King at Greensborough in Melbourne’s north applied duress to a 23-year-old female employee after the management decided to move staff off the National Fast Food Retail Award 2000 and onto AWAs.
The ombudsman said Donut King cut the woman’s hours from 36.5 hours per week to 15 hours after she refused to accept the conditions offered under the AWA.
The ombudsman has completed litigation of 36 matters, resulting in penalties totalling $822,000, and is currently litigating 70 other matters.
Chief counsel Leigh Johns for the Workplace Ombudsman said litigation and the public outcomes acted as powerful deterrents against non-compliance with workplace laws.
”Although litigation is only one of the compliance tools available to the Workplace Ombudsman, it has been remarkably effective on those occasions when it is used,” Mr Johns said.
The Greensborough Donut King franchisee faces a $33,000 maximum fine if the prosecution is successful.
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