Spotless has been fined $17,500 for refusing to pay redundancy to three long-serving staff following a landmark judgment against its group redundancy policy.

The Federal Court issued the penalty on Tuesday after criticising Spotless for its treatment of its Perth International Airport staff, including an accountant with more than 30 years’ service, and for adopting an incorrect policy position without any apparent legal consideration that would have netted it “considerable” financial gain.