Brisbane insurance company penalised
The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $19,000 in penalties in court against an insurance claims management company in the Brisbane CBD and its former director.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court has imposed a $17,000 penalty against Alliance Property Consultancy Pty Ltd, which operated ‘Storm Assist’ on Eagle Street, and $2,000 penalty against the company’s former sole director Adam Skilled Killackey.
The penalties were imposed in response to Alliance Property Consultancy failing to comply with a Compliance Notice requiring it to calculate and back-pay entitlements to a worker it employed as a full-time sales consultant between January and May 2021. Mr Killackey was involved in the contravention.
At the request of the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Court also ordered that $1988.44 of the penalty imposed on Mr Killackey be paid to the worker, to rectify the underpayment.
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said business operators that fail to act on Compliance Notices need to be aware they can face penalties in court on top of having to back-pay workers.
“When Compliance Notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements,” Ms Parker said.
“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”
The FWO investigated after receiving a request for assistance from the affected worker.
A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Alliance Property Consultancy in August 2021 after forming a belief the company had underpaid the worker’s accrued but untaken annual leave entitlements at the end of his employment, under the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.
Employers and employees can visit www.fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and assistance about their rights and obligations in the workplace. An interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
Small businesses can find targeted resources at the Small Business Showcase.
