skip to Main Content
One Of Australia’s Worst Bosses Todd Buzza Repeatedly Exploited Workers

One of Australia’s worst bosses Todd Buzza repeatedly exploited workers

One of Australia’s worst bosses, Todd Buzza, has been penalised $300,000 for repeatedly exploiting workers.

Buzza is so dishonest, the Victorian Department of Consumer Affairs has issued a public warning advising people not to have any business dealings with him.

One of Australia’s worst bosses Todd Buzza

For more than two years, Buzza has deliberately ripped off workers at his two Melbourne-based ‘Burger Buzz’ outlets.

In fact, he failed to pay some workers anything at all.

Buzza employed young or overseas workers, making them work between five days and 11 weeks, including night and weekend shifts.

He then refused to pay them.

Only those who chased their wages received any money, usually less than half of what he owed them.

Buzza has failed to back-pay his workers, despite a court ordering him to do so in June last year.

This week, the Federal Circuit Court penalised Buzza $51,735, and his company, Rum Runner Trading Pty Ltd, an additional $258,495.

Judge Suzanne Jones described the wage theft as “blatant” and “extraordinary” conduct.

She also said his refusal to back-pay staff displayed “a level contempt for the orders of the court.”

One of the worst cases of exploitation

Miles Heffernan from Industrial Relations Claims says this is one of the worst cases of worker exploitation he’s seen.

“Mr Buzza’s business model is to churn through as many workers as possible, use them, abuse them, and then spit them out without a cent,” he said.

“He deserves the huge financial penalty, and should never be allowed to employ people ever again.”

Unpaid ‘Burger Buzz’ workers.

Legal action first started in 2016

Fair Work first commenced legal action against Buzza and his company in June 2016 when he underpaid seven workers $7,113.

The regulator took further legal action in December 2016, after Buzza short-changed a further five employees $7,513.

Wage theft allegations against Buzza go back as far as 2104.

Buzza also provided Fair Work inspectors with false and misleading records to cover up his wage theft.

The court has now imposed an injunction restraining Buzza and his company from contravening the Restaurant Award or pay slip obligations in the future.

Any further breaches will be a criminal offence, and can result in jail time.

No contrition or remorse

Judge Jones said Buzza has “shown no genuine contrition or remorse”, despite the effect his wage theft had on his workers.

One had to sell belongings to be able to afford to buy food and pay his rent.

Another had to move interstate to live with her parents because she could no longer afford to live in Melbourne.

 


Call our team at Industrial Relations Claims today on

1300 045 466

To connect with us, please follow us on

 

Back To Top