Woolworths & Big W
Adero Law filed a class action against Woolworths and Big W in November 2019 on behalf of salaried supermarket employees. The class action claims that compensation and penalties should be paid to class members who were not paid enough for the hours they worked under the General Retail Industry Award
We attended a case management hearing on 20 March 2026 before the Honourable Justice Perram of the Federal Court of Australia. The parties in the Woolworths class action were in attendance, as was the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).
Shortly before the hearing, Woolworths consented to our revised amendment application. For existing group members employed by Woolworths between November 2013 and November 2019, and by Woolworths SA and Big W between June 2014 and June 2020, the class action now covers underpayments claimed through to September 2020. We estimate this may add millions in total unpaid entitlements to the class action.
Woolworths will also provide the employee records it provided to the FWO. We understand these records relate to a relatively small number of employees covered by both the class action and the FWO proceeding. These records will nevertheless ensure that the class action and the FWO have access to the same information. The class action will continue to seek production of all relevant employee records and information in due course.
The final issue addressed at the hearing was declarations, which reflect the findings of the Court in the September 2025 judgment. The parties have been directed to provide final declarations and supporting submissions in early April, after which the Court will determine and make the declarations. Once made, the parties will have the opportunity to appeal or cross-appeal.
We will provide a further update following the next hearing listed for 1 May 2026.
You may be a class member in the Woolworths class action if you worked:
- in a salaried position
- at a Woolworths, Metro, or BIG W supermarket
- between 30 November 2013 and 29 November 2019 for Woolworths employees and 25 June 2014 to 24 June 2020 for Woolworths South Australia
Many class members would have received a notice from the court by letter or email in March and November 2021. If you did not receive a notice from the court but believe you are a class member, please feel free to contact us.
We are also investigating a new class action against Woolworths for people who worked:
- in a salaried position
- at a Woolworths, Metro, or BIG W supermarket
- between 30 November 2019 and 31 October 2025
You can register to receive updates about the investigation.
The class action was filed in November 2019 by Adero Law on behalf of Mr Baker, a night Replenishment Team Manager at Woolworths Camberwell in Victoria.
Mr Baker alleges that the salary Woolworths paid to him was insufficient to satisfy his legal entitlements. Mr Baker claims he was working well beyond his rostered hours to keep his department running to the standard expected by Woolworths, and he wasn’t always able to record his hours of work accurately in Kronos. Mr Baker knew that he was not the only salaried Woolworths employee who felt this way, which is why he started the class action.