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An HR manager deliberately attempted to avoid paying an employee his correct entitlements by falsely accusing him of poor performance and then sacking him, a tribunal has ruled in fining an employer $104k.

The part-time Golf World employee raised concerns in mid-2021 about being underpaid, but the general manager told him not to ask too many questions as he was on a "good wicket", while the HR manager explained that staff didn't get penalty rates due to the commission structure in place.

Later that year, the employee was regularly rostered for fewer than the 24 hours set out in his contract, but when he complained, the HR manager said the employer wasn't required to comply with that weekly minimum.

After being told by the employee that he had contacted the Fair Work Ombudsman, the HR manager responded that the employee would receive a "top-up" payment of $1,449. He also instructed him not to discuss this issue with colleagues...