Casual burger chain Grill’d founder Simon Crowe has agreed to review company-owned store pay rates following claims by a former employee she had been sacked for asking for a fair wage.

Grill’d has found itself in hot water over the allegations, and Crowe in a radio interview said “Our intent is to make sure we very clearly do what’s right and enter into modernising our award.”

The ex-employee, Kahlani Pyrah, who worked at a franchised outlet in Melbourne, had questioned the pay rates, which she claims don’t include penalty rates or overtime.

There are about 60 company-owned stores in the food franchise chain, and many of the outlets have employment agreements dating back to WorkChoices era and pay staff wages below the fast food industry award. Crowe told BRW the agreement was annually reviewed to ensure it was legal and has said he will raise the issue of pay rates with franchisees, who control their own staff wages.

Crowe returned to Melbourne from a family trip overseas to deal with the crisis. Grill’d has published a statement from Crowe on the company website.

Pyrah has taken her case to Fair Work Australia.