A recent Federal Court decision has reshaped the wage compliance landscape for franchisors.
In Bakers Delight Holdings Ltd v Fair Work Ombudsman [2025] FCAFC 144, the Federal Court confirmed that franchisors can be held responsible for their franchisees’ wage underpayments where employment records are missing or inadequate.
This judgment highlights the growing expectations on franchisors to take a more active role in managing workplace compliance across their networks. It also reinforces the need to review record-keeping systems and franchise agreement terms to ensure they meet the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009.
Join Morgan Beames, Senior Associate at NRA Legal as he unpacks what this decision means for the retail industry, covering:
- How the Federal Court applied the “reverse onus” provision and what it means when employment records are missing
- When and how franchisors can be held responsible for franchisee wage underpayments
- The key provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 — sections 557C and 558B — and how they work in practice
- What the decision means for compliance systems, record-keeping processes, and franchise agreements going forward
Details:
Date: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Time: 10.00am–11.00am AEST (11.00am-12.00pm AEDT)
Location: Online webinar via Microsoft Teams
Cost: FREE to attend
Please note the time difference due to daylight savings and adjust accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out!