A sushi franchisee in Sydney has had to backpay an employee more than $5000 after paying wages below the Fast Food Industry Award entitlement.

Joo Young Ju paid staff a flat hourly rate of less than $16.50 after checking her competitors’ pay rates. One employee complained to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Hospitality magazine reports the employee was entitled to $17.98 an hour for normal hours, with penalty rates up to $39.57.

The employee was owed more than $5000 for working full time for 11 weeks, and had been underpaid annual leave entitlements as well.

Ju, who operates two Sushi Izu franchise outlets in Woolworths stores at Double Bay and Town Hall, agreed to back pay the 26 year old backpacker working on a 417 visa.

An Enforceable Undertaking was given by Ju’s company Fine Food Gallery to:

• undergo workplace relations training
• self-audit staff salaries and entitlements
• register with the ombudsman’s online tool My Account
• display workplace notices of its contraventions
• apologise in writing to the former employee

Other cases of franchisees underpaying staff include Gloria Jean’s,

There are conditions too to changing staff rosters.