A popular bakery owner in Sydney has been condemned by a judge for the calculated and exploitative financial abuse of a teenage employee with an intellectual disability, forcing her to bankroll business expenses and a family holiday abroad.
Systematic Exploitation of a Vulnerable Worker
Tayla Johnson, who has a mild intellectual disability and an IQ of 64, began working at the Village Bakery on Sydney's northern beaches when she was just 16. Instead of receiving wages for her work as a casual retail assistant between June 2021 and April 2023, she was shockingly ordered to pay the bakery's bills.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia heard that over nearly two years, Ms Johnson was left unpaid. Instead, she was compelled to cover the shop's rent, meat bills, and supply costs, amassing personal expenses totalling $18,080.60. In a further egregious act, she was forced to contribute to her employer's overseas family holiday.
A Scathing Judicial Rebuke
In a blistering judgment on December 22, Judge Peter Papadopoulos branded the bakery owner, Nhu Anh Vu, as "manipulative", "calculated" and "exploitative". He condemned her conduct as a gross abuse of power, considering Ms Johnson's youth and disability.
"That offending was deliberate and calculated, and occurred in circumstances amounting to an abuse of power," Judge Papadopoulos said. "To characterise the conduct... as being blameworthy or deplorable is, frankly, an understatement."
The court also found that Vu had actively evaded legal service, misrepresented her whereabouts, and refused to participate in the proceedings, showing disregard for the court's authority. The judge noted Vu had developed a personal relationship with Ms Johnson, inviting her to live above the bakery for around eight months.
Substantial Penalties and Court Orders
The Village Bakery, which promotes itself as a three-generation family business popular for its pies and bánh mì, has now been hit with severe financial penalties. The court has ordered payments totalling more than $345,000 for its treatment of Ms Johnson.
The breakdown includes:
- Nearly $49,000 in outstanding wages.
- Over $5,000 for unpaid superannuation.
- A substantial $235,000 in penalties for serious contraventions of the Fair Work Act.
- Additional compensation orders.
Personally, Vu was ordered to repay Ms Johnson the $18,080.60 of personal funds she was coerced into spending. All costs must be paid by late January. The court heard Ms Johnson was once paid just $1,233 for 123 hours of work—around $10 per hour, well below the legal minimum—before payments stopped completely from August 2021.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for employers who exploit vulnerable workers and violate fundamental employment rights.
