The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has successfully taken legal action against the former operators of a United Petroleum site in Adelaide, resulting in more than $38,000 in penalties for workplace breaches.

What Happened

An investigation by the FWO found that the former operators had underpaid three international student employees and failed to meet several key workplace obligations. The underpayments related to accrued annual leave that wasn’t paid out when the staff finished their employment. The business also neglected to issue pay slips on time and didn’t have written agreements in place for part-time workers.

While the affected employees have since been repaid, the court imposed significant fines on both the company that operated the site and its former manager for their roles in the breaches.

Broader Context

This case forms part of a wider compliance effort by the FWO, which has been auditing United Petroleum sites across multiple states to ensure franchise operators are meeting their legal responsibilities. So far, similar actions in other states have led to substantial penalties and additional cases are still before the courts.

Why It Matters for Independent Operators

For service station owners, the message from Fair Work is clear: accurate recordkeeping and timely payment of entitlements are essential. Even small oversights can lead to costly penalties, damage to reputation, and additional scrutiny.

Key areas of compliance include:

Paying out all leave and entitlements when employment ends.
Issuing pay slips within one working day of payment.
Keeping proper written agreements for part-time and casual staff.

Independent operators who employ migrant or student workers should take particular care, as Fair Work continues to focus on protecting vulnerable employees in high-turnover industries such as retail and fuel.

Ensuring compliance not only avoids fines but helps maintain trust and stability across your workforce.

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