UWU continues Genius Early Learning fight for payment recovery 

The United Workers Union (UWU) has reportedly lodged a case with the Federal Circuit Court as it seeks to recover payments for educators from Genius Early Learning.

The Union is seeking to recover payments for educators who are owed an alleged estimated $7 million in unpaid superannuation, further alleging that on numerous occasions educators were paid late, impacting their capacity to meet their financial obligations. 

Genius, which operates 39 centres in all mainland states and the ACT, has approximately 850 employees, and has recently attracted attention around issues with late-paid or unpaid wages and ‘mass resignations’ at one of its ACT services. 

The case, UWU national president Jo Schofield believes, will serve as “a test case for hundreds of other workers at Genius.”

According to the UWU, as reported in the mainstream media and specialist HR news spaces, the court action seeks to claim compensation for unpaid superannuation, late wage payments and financial penalties for breaches of the Fair Work Act on behalf of early educators in Victoria and Queensland.

These fines are across six alleged breaches, worth up to $18 million against Genius Education group and two subsidiaries and almost $1.2 million against its sole director.

The UWU claimed that businesses owned by the director have a history of contraventions, with a reported $9 million rent bill being chased up by a landlord who previously dealt with him.

Both Genius and its owner have yet to file a defence in the case, which will come before the Federal Circuit Court for a scheduling hearing next year.