High-end restaurant group Rockpool is accused of tampering with time-sheet records and making staff work excessive hours in an “audacious” scheme to cheat them of overtime pay.
The Hospo Voice Union has engaged Maurice Blackburn Lawyers to lodge a complaint against Rockpool with the Fair Work Ombudsman, with the matter to go to mediation on Friday.
The group is accused of tampering with time-sheet software to limit employees to 38 hours pay a week, despite the use of fingerprint scanners for staff clocking on and off and having some work up to 100 hours a week.
The law firm says it is “one of the most egregious cases of wage theft Australia has seen yet,” estimating Rockpool’s wage theft bill to be at least $10 million.
They argue that, as their estimation exceeds the $7.8 million repaid by George Calombaris’ MAde Establishment Group, the federal government should seek court-imposed penalties at the maximum amount.
During Senate Estimates, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker conceded that Mr Calombaris’ $200,000 “contrition payment” was too light.
However she said her agency was “learning and evolving”.
Rockpool Dining Group is one of Australia’s top restaurant groups, fronted by celebrity chef and brand ambassador Neil Perry and owned by multi-billion dollar Quadrant Private Equity group.
It has 2500 staff working across 80 venues, including Spice Temple, Rosetta, Sake and Rockpool Bar & Grill and turns over $400 million per year.
Last year it reported a profit of $40 million.
-with AAP
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