WRC rejects pre-school educator’s pandemic pay complaint

The WRC found that a pre-school educator’s Payment of Wages Act complaint was not well founded after concluding that the wage subsidy was the amount properly payable while the childcare facility was closed and she was laid off. The decision was dated 28 February 2022. The educator said Revenue’s subsidy calculation used an incorrect reference period and left her short by €503 across five payments. The facility said Revenue calculated the subsidy despite receiving payroll information showing her start date. The WRC found that the underpayment arose from Revenue’s approach, not anything the facility did.