Coles sets aside another $25m to repay managers

Coles had already taken a $25m provision for underpaying staff in 2021 and is facing both a Federal Court proceeding by the Fair Work Ombudsman and a separate class-action lawsuit related to the matter.

The supermarket said it had "worked diligently" in relation to these issues and was making the remediation "following further consideration of the issues as they have evolved".

The underpayments apparently occurred because Coles was not paying its salaried supermarket store managers enough to cover their minimum lawful entitlements, given that they were working significant overtime. 

In recent years Woolworths, Qantas, BHP, the ABC, Super Retail Group, Michael Hill Jewellers, Rockpool Dining Group, Domino's Pizza and Sunglass Hut have all admitted paying staff in violation of Australia's highly complicated system of industrial wage awards.