Super Retail Group pays out £52.7m to underpaid employees

Super Retail Group, the owner of one of Australia’s leading fishing tackle retail chains, has paid out more than $52.7m to both current and former employees who were underpaid.

The group, which owns the BCF outdoor sports brand, reports that the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has filed proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia in relation to previously reported arrangements for some of its team members. The company reported the matter to the FWO in 2018 and apologised to affected members. It has made it clear that it is unacceptable and contrary to the group’s values for any team member not to be paid correctly.

With the help of expert external advisors, Super Retail Group said it has undertaken a comprehensive pay back programme for affected team members involving extensive calculations, assessments and review. The process has been substantially completed with the group having paid more than $52.7m in entitlements and interest.

Super Retail Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Heraghty said: “We note the allegations in the proceedings and reiterate our view that this matter represents a regrettable chapter in our company’s history. It is inacceptable and contrary to the company’s values for any team member not to be paid correctly.

“We are sorry for the impact on our team members and restate our unreserved apology to each person affected. Since 2018 we have changed our processes to fix the issues and help to ensure team members are being paid correctly. We have effectively completed our detailed remediation process to back pay affected team members and have fully cooperated with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s investigation.”

In 2018 Super Retail Group announced it had identified that some of its Set Up team members were not paid in compliance with the appropriate modern award and that it would begin back payments to compensate those affected. Set Up projects involve the fit out of new stores and refurbishment of existing outlets.