The Fair Work Ombudsman is prosecuting the former manager of a Melbourne retail business after a salesperson was allegedly underpaid $25,000.
Facing court is Caulfield South man Russell Meerkin, a former manager and part-owner of Ken Bruce Sales on Glenferrie Road, Malvern.
Documents lodged in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court allege Meerkin was centrally involved in the salesperson being underpaid a total of $25,575 between 2003 and 2008.
The Fair Work Ombudsman claims the male employee, in his 50s, worked an average 47.5 hours a week from Monday to Saturday.
The alleged underpayments were primarily related to overtime rates, annual leave entitlements and pay in lieu of notice.
Meerkin also allegedly failed to keep proper employment records for the employee or issue him with payslips.
Fair Work Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell says Meerkin committed several breaches of workplace laws. The maximum penalty per breach is $6600 for the underpayment matters and $1100 for the payslip and record keeping matters.
The Ken Bruce Sales store in Malvern was sold in late 2008 and Meerkin no longer has any involvement with the business.