Coffee Camp health food retailer ordered to pay more than $52,000 after unfairly dismissing two employees

A Northern Rivers retailer which unfairly dismissed two of its workers has now been slapped with orders to pay more than $52,000. Here is what we know.

Rainbow Wholefoods in North Lismore.

A northern NSW health food retailer has been ordered to pay more than $52,000 after unfairly dismissing two workers.

Rainbow Wholefoods Pty Ltd based at Coffee Camp, near Nimbin, have been ordered to pay a total of $54,264 for failing to pay compensation to the two workers.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court has ordered a $45,288 penalty against the Lismore retailer and a further $8976 penalty against company director and shareholder Anthony Stillone.

The penalties were ordered after Rainbow Wholefoods admitted breaching the Fair Work Act by failing to comply with Fair Work Commission orders.

Rainbow Wholefoods in North Lismore.

Rainbow Wholefoods was ordered to pay the compensation in full to the two workers, who had received only partial payment.

In April 2021, the Commission found that Rainbow Wholefoods unfairly dismissed a manager and a shop assistant employed since 2015 and 2018, respectively, in July 2020.

The company was ordered to pay $31,280 compensation to the manager and $19,697.20 compensation to the shop assistant within three weeks.

The workers lodged requests for assistance with the Fair Work Ombudsman after the company failed to make the payments.

The Ombudsman launched an investigation and attempted to get the business to voluntarily comply before commencing legal action in 2021.

Rainbow Wholefoods made part-payment of the compensation earlier this year, but still owed the office manager more than $21,000 and the shop assistant more than $9000.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said business operators failing to comply with Commission orders could be hit with court-imposed penalties.

“It is fundamental for the integrity of the workplace relations system that orders made by the Fair Work Commission are complied with,” Ms Parker said.

“We are prepared to take legal action to hold employers accountable and ensure employees receive compensation they are lawfully entitled to.”