The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $18,290 in penalties and back-pay orders in court against a Sydney real estate agency and its director in a matter involving a young worker.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court has imposed a $12,375 penalty against Drew and Schofer Real Estate Pty Ltd, and a $2,475 penalty against the company's sole director and owner, Graeme Ralph Drew.
The penalties were imposed in response to Drew and Schofer Real Estate's failure to comply with a Compliance Notice, which required it to calculate and back-pay a junior real estate worker it employed on a full-time basis from July to September 2022, when he was aged 18. Mr Drew was involved in the contravention.
In addition to the penalties, the court has ordered Drew and Schofer Real Estate to back-pay the worker $3,440 in outstanding entitlements, plus interest and superannuation.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said employers that failed to act on Compliance Notices needed to be aware they could face court-imposed penalties on top of having to pay workers.
