Super Retail Group and Rebel Underpayment Class Action Lawsuit, Were You Underpaid as a Store Manager?

Super Retail Group’s Rebel Sport has been hit with a Federal Court class action filed on 21 May 2026, alleging it contravened the retail industry award by failing to properly pay its staff. The Adero Law-led lawsuit pursues Rebel for compensation as well as penalties, with lead principal Corinne Armanini saying an estimated 2,000 employees could have been affected by Rebel’s alleged contraventions. No settlement exists and no claim form is open — but affected staff can register their interest now.

Quick Facts: Rebel Sport / Super Retail Group Underpayment Class Action

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	21 May 2026
Defendant	Super Retail Group Limited / Rebel Sport Ltd
Alleged Violation	General Retail Industry Award 2010; Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Who Is Affected	Current and former Rebel Sport managers who worked in a management role from May 2020 until the class action was filed
Estimated Affected Workers	Approximately 2,000 employees
Current Court Stage	Active litigation — Federal Court of Australia
Court & Jurisdiction	Federal Court of Australia
Lead Law Firm	Adero Law — Corinne Armanini, Principal
Next Hearing Date	TBD — case in early stage; separate Fair Work Ombudsman hearing scheduled for December 2026
Register Interest	aderolaw.com.au/class-action/super-retail-group
Last Updated	22 May 2026

What Is the Rebel Sport Lawsuit About?

The class action claims Rebel Sport engaged in systematic and serious employment contraventions by keeping misleading records about employee overtime hours — and that it ought to have known of its obligations under the award.

Matthew Ridgewell is leading the class action. He worked as a full-time store manager at Rebel’s Woden branch in the ACT from July 2019 until November 2024. He says he raised concerns about his unrealistic workload but was told this was part of being a leader. “It was a slap in the face to be asked to do all this extra work and not be fairly compensated for that work, especially from a business which could afford to do so,” he told AAP.

In the class action pleadings, Ridgewell says he was required to attend his store before his scheduled start time to disable alarms, prepare tills and conduct the team huddle before opening — and was required to stay past his scheduled finish time to serve final customers, clean the store, count the cash and escort staff out. He claims he was not paid for this overtime.

The alleged underpayments go well beyond unpaid hours before and after shifts. This is exactly the kind of unpaid wages lawsuit that Australian employment law was designed to address, and it sits alongside a broader pattern of retail underpayment class actions Adero Law has pursued against major employers.

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Are You Part of the Rebel Sport Class Action Lawsuit?

The lawsuit targets Rebel Sport store managers specifically. Here is how to tell whether you may be included.

You may be part of this class if:

• You worked in a management role at Rebel Sport — including as a Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager — at any time from May 2020 until May 2026 when the class action was filed
• You were a full-time, part-time, or salaried employee in a management position
• You were regularly required to start before your rostered time or stay after it without additional pay
• You were required to work through unpaid rest or meal breaks
• You performed work on your days off — such as payroll, rostering, or responding to staff calls — without compensation
• You were not paid full penalty rates for weekend, public holiday, or late-night work
• You worked at stores operated by Super Retail Group brands including Supercheap Auto, BCF, or Macpac (Adero Law is investigating these brands in addition to Rebel)

You are likely NOT included if:

• You worked only as a casual team member with no management responsibilities (though Adero Law is also separately investigating casual and part-time staff)
• You worked at Rebel Sport before May 2020

Adero Law is operating on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you are not financially at risk by registering your interest at this stage. Under the Fair Work Act 2009, section 340, it is unlawful for an employer to treat you differently for exercising your workplace rights — meaning Rebel cannot take adverse action against you for joining this class action.

What Are the Plaintiffs Seeking in the Rebel Class Action?

The Adero Law-led lawsuit pursues Rebel for compensation as well as penalties for alleged contraventions of the General Retail Industry Award 2010 (GRIA 2010) and the Fair Work Act 2009. Specifically, the claim documents allege Rebel:

• Failed to pay overtime for hours worked before scheduled start times and after scheduled end times
• Required staff to work through unpaid rest and meal breaks without additional compensation
• Required managers to perform work on their days off — including completing payroll, preparing rosters and taking staff calls — without pay
• Did not fully pay penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and night work
• Breached the award by requiring managers to work six or more consecutive days

No total compensation figure for the class action has been announced. The separate Fair Work Ombudsman proceedings — which cover the broader Super Retail Group including Supercheap Auto, BCF, Ray’s Outdoors and Macpac — allege underpayments of more than $1 million across a sample of workers, with individual underpayments ranging from small amounts to about $34,500 per employee, and seek maximum penalties of $630,000 per serious contravention under the Fair Work Act. A ten-day hearing in the Fair Work Ombudsman proceedings has been scheduled for December 2026.

What Should You Do If You Were Affected?

At this stage, Adero Law is accepting registrations of interest from individuals who have worked in a Super Retail Group store at any time since 2019 — whether you are currently employed or not. Here is what makes sense right now:

• Register your interest with Adero Law at aderolaw.com.au/class-action/super-retail-group or call (02) 6189 1022. This does not commit you to anything and is free.
• Gather any records you have. Timesheets, rosters, payslips, and any written or electronic communications showing the hours you worked versus the hours you were paid for will all be relevant. Employment records dating back to May 2020 are the most useful.
• Note specific incidents. If you can recall — or document — specific dates when you were required to work before your start time, through breaks, or on days off without pay, write those down now while your memory is fresh.
• Do not fear your employer. The Fair Work Act protects you from any adverse action for joining a class action. If you believe Rebel or Super Retail Group has treated you differently because you registered interest, contact Adero Law immediately.
• If you want individual advice, contact an employment discrimination attorney or employment law specialist separate from class counsel for guidance specific to your own situation.

Super Retail Group / Rebel Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Alleged Underpayments Began	2019 (per Adero Law investigation period)
Super Retail Group Self-Reported to FWO	2018 (prior conduct period)
Fair Work Ombudsman Filed Federal Court Proceedings	January 2023
Adero Law Begins Investigation	2025
Class Action Filed in Federal Court	21 May 2026
Class Member Period Covered	May 2020 to date of filing
Fair Work Ombudsman Hearing Scheduled	December 2026 (10-day hearing)
Class Certification Motion	TBD — case in early stage
Expected Settlement Timeline	TBD — litigation ongoing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Rebel Sport and Super Retail Group? 

Yes. Adero Law filed a Federal Court class action against Super Retail Group and Rebel Sport on 21 May 2026, alleging systematic underpayment of managers in contravention of the General Retail Industry Award 2010 and the Fair Work Act 2009. An estimated 2,000 employees may be affected.

Do I need to do anything right now to join the Rebel class action?

 You are not automatically included — this is an opt-in class action at the registration stage. To participate, register your interest at aderolaw.com.au or call (02) 6189 1022. There is no cost at this stage and no obligation until you sign a retainer if and when the case formally commences.

When will a settlement be reached in the Super Retail Group case? 

No settlement exists and no timeline has been announced. Australian employment class actions of this scale typically take several years to resolve. The separate Fair Work Ombudsman hearing is scheduled for December 2026. Monitor this page and Adero Law’s website for updates.

Can Rebel Sport take action against me for joining this class action?

 No. Section 340 of the Fair Work Act 2009 makes it unlawful for an employer to take any adverse action against an employee for exercising their workplace rights — which includes joining a class action. If you experience any negative treatment, contact Adero Law immediately.

What is the General Retail Industry Award and why does it matter? 

The General Retail Industry Award 2010 (GRIA) sets the minimum pay entitlements for retail employees in Australia, including overtime rates, penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, rest break requirements, and limits on consecutive days worked. The lawsuit alleges Rebel consistently failed to comply with these minimum legal obligations.

Is the Fair Work Ombudsman case the same as the Adero Law class action? 

No. They are separate proceedings. The Fair Work Ombudsman filed its own Federal Court proceedings against Super Retail Group and four subsidiaries — Super Cheap Auto, Rebel Sport, BCF/Ray’s Outdoors, and Macpac — alleging underpayments of more than $1 million across a sample group of employees, with a December 2026 hearing scheduled. The Adero Law class action specifically targets Rebel managers and seeks compensation directly for those workers, not just penalties for the company.

How much could I receive from the Rebel class action?

 TBD — no settlement fund or compensation figure has been determined. Individual amounts will depend on how many hours each worker was allegedly underpaid, over what period, and the outcome of the litigation or any eventual settlement.

Sources & References

• AAP / Yahoo News Australia: ‘Underpaid, overworked’ managers sue Rebel Sports, published 21 May 2026 — au.news.yahoo.com
• Adero Law — Super Retail Group Class Action page: aderolaw.com.au/class-action/super-retail-group
• Fair Work Ombudsman media release — FWO takes court action against Super Retail Group, January 2023: fairwork.gov.au
• General Retail Industry Award 2010 (GRIA 2010), Fair Work Commission
• Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), s 340

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against AAP reports, Adero Law’s official case page, and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s published media release. Last Updated: 22 May 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.