ARTICLE · 11 DECEMBER 2019

Woolworths & the cost of workplace flexibility

Coleman Greig Lawyers

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Woolworths was misinterpreting the Award in its favour since 2010, to the disadvantage of approximately 5,700 employees

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Dominic Russell

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Woolworths recently joined an ever-growing club of businesses, including Wesfarmers, Qantas, Commonwealth Bank and Super Retail Group self-reporting employee underpayments to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Even the perennial champions for employee rights, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers are not immune.

In a statement to the ASX on 30 October 2019, Woolworths announced that "approximately 5,700 salaried store team members ... have not been paid in full compliance with Woolworths Group's obligations under the General Retail Industry Award" (Award) and that "the estimated one-off impact for remediation ... is expected to be in the range of $200-$300 million before tax."

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