Jim’s Mowing franchisees return to work as Jim Penman vows to fight for compensation
Despite Jim’s Mowing franchisees being able to return to work, its founder has revealed why he’s not letting up in the company’s fight to sue the Victorian government.
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Jim’s Mowing founder Jim Penman is not backing down on his fight for compensation despite hundreds of previously suspended franchisees returning to work on Monday.
While Mr Penman welcomed about 500 of his franchisees starting back at work this week under the government’s latest move to ease some restrictions, he said the “damage had already been done”.
“I’ve been talking to them every day while they’ve been at home unable to work and I feel the hurt,” he told NCA NewsWire.
“I really hope by October 19 I don‘t have to run more campaigns, but after then when everyone is back at work my biggest concern will be getting compensation for my franchisees.
“I’ve lost some money but whatever, I’m not asking for it for myself, I want every cent that every single one of my franchisees missed out on during lockdown back in their pockets.”
Mr Penman previously said about 615 franchisees across the state were losing about $3000 a week since the Premier’s controversial workplace restrictions prevented cleaners and gardeners from working.
He said it would result in a lawsuit of about $7 million.
But on Sunday Daniel Andrews announced gardening, landscaping and garden maintenance businesses who had an ABN were part of lower risk industries that would be allowed to return to onsite work from September 28.
“I’ve gotten back legal advice and am handing that out to franchisees as we speak, this will be my only cause,” Mr Penman said.
If the claims weren’t successful through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the mowing magnate vowed to mount a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.
“We were never against restrictions in fact we were very supportive – all our franchisees wore masks and I had them all install the CovidSafe app – we got behind the government,” Mr Penman said.
“But when the Premier had that fantastic change of mind about sole workers – where he basically took the lowest risk workers out of work, that is when I started to get energised about all this.”
With infections across Victoria dropping to its lowest point since June 12 on Monday the Premier maintained his controversial strategy against COVID-19 was working.
“We are well ahead of schedule,” he said.
“Notwithstanding the fact that there is that time lag that we have to wait and see how the virus presents and what the effect of changes announced yesterday and any other changes we might make are.
“I know that that is frustrating. People I know would love to move to take even further steps as quickly as possible. But this thing is silent. It moves rapidly. And there is that need, that absolute need, there is simply no choice.
“We have to wait and see what happens, because it is hidden for two weeks, three weeks, before you‘ll really get a complete picture of what the impact in terms of virus transmission and therefore, virus numbers, and therefore, risk, is, in real term.”
Originally published as Jim’s Mowing franchisees return to work as Jim Penman vows to fight for compensation