Allegations of rampant employee underpayment at Coles and Woolworths that affected almost 30,000 staff remain unresolved two years after a lengthy trial.

The Federal Court on Friday handed down a judgment on four cases against the supermarket giants after a watchdog argued there was tacit approval of illegal conduct in many stores.

Woolworths and Coles have repaid $330 million and $7 million respectively to managers who were not properly paid entitlements due to them as salaried employees.

But the Fair Work Ombudsman and former grocery store employees behind two class actions say the market leaders should be forced to pay more.

The watchdog argued the relevant award set out a 38-hour work week but there was tacit approval to allow people to work overtime regularly.

It claims there wer

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