<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> carpenter is being taken to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="court"><span>court</span></a><span> for allegedly threatening to sack a teenage apprentice if he took sick leave.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Caleb Geoffrey Stubbs - a sole trader who operates CS Carpentry in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/geelong" rel="" target="" title="Geelong"><span>Geelong</span></a><span> - is also accused of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/money" rel="" target="" title="underpaying"><span>underpaying</span></a><span> the apprentice and another young casual worker and failing to cooperate with Fair Work's attempts to investigate the claims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Fair Work Ombudsman launched the investigation after receiving requests for help from the two 18-year-olds who were employed by Stubbs in 2022 and 2023.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/outback-wrangler-star-matt-wright-home-following-prison-release-birth-of-son-sterling/2c7de685-df8d-40d4-962b-e81732eb5d08" rel="" target="" title="Outback Wrangler star released from prison, just missing birth of baby"><strong><span>Outback Wrangler star released from prison, just missing birth of baby</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One was employed as an apprentice carpenter between November 2022 and January 2023. and the other as a casual construction worker for a week in November 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Fair Work, on the morning of January 19, 2023, the apprentice messaged his employer on Snapchat stating he was unwell and wouldn't be able to work that day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's then that Fair Work alleges Stubbs threatened to not pay the apprentice for a week if he didn't come to work and to terminate his employment if he took personal leave in the future.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/geelong-carpenter-allegedly-threatened-to-sack-apprentice-for-taking-sick-leave/03a7b57b-210b-4f09-ba27-a26e90099dcb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The carpenter also stands accused of failing to comply with a Compliance Notice from Fair Work in April of the same year, after a Fair Work investigator pursued him for allegedly underpaying the casual worker and failing to pay the apprentice's public holiday and leave entitlements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stubbs also allegedly breached pay slip laws.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Sick leave is a fundamental lawful entitlement," Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Rachel Volzke said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Workers have a right to access their leave entitlements without negative consequences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Taking action to protect employees who may be vulnerable, such as young workers, and improving compliance in the building and construction industry are priorities for the Fair Work Ombudsman."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stubbs faces a fine of up to $8250 over the Compliance Notice issue as well as $16,500 for each of the alleged pay slip and adverse action contraventions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The regulator is also seeking a court order directing Stubbs to comply with the Compliance Notice, including rectifying outstanding payments to the young employees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case against Stubbs will be heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne on May 21.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news 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