First published on Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Last updated on Tuesday, September 1, 2026
With the number of investigations into wage theft, your business cannot afford to compromise on ensuring employees are paid according to their award rate amongst other legal entitlements.
In this case, the former director of an electrical services in Melbourne is being taken to court by the Fair Work Ombudsman for allegedly underpaying five former employees.
The investigation
A director of Dahn Group Pty Ltd is facing court due to the allegations. The company specialised in installing solar panels before it shut. Five former workers informed the Fair Work Ombudsman, with investigations resulting in two compliance notices to the company. According to the inspector from Fair Work, the former staff members had been underpaid minimum wage rates such as for ordinary hours plus overtime and annual leave entitlements.
The Fair Work Ombudsman believes that the director did not comply with the notices regarding the alleged underpayments, with penalties of $18,780 per breach. The directions hearing will be held on the 15th of December 2026.
Whether you’ve employed staff as full-time employees or contractors, the recent investigations from Fair Work show that you absolutely cannot take shortcuts or be neglectful in your compliance obligations. Irrespective of when breaches like this occur, you take the risk of reputational damage, time lost, and heavy penalties for non-compliance.
For more information on helping your company navigate award rates and avoid compliance issues, book a free HR call with our team today, where you’ll see exactly how our BrightHR elevates your business while assisting you in avoiding investigations by Fair Work.
