Jai Arrow’s Wife Launches Legal Action Against AI Firm After Suspension on Her Return From Maternity Leave

Jai Arrow’s wife has launched legal action against her employer after being suspended on the day she was due to return from maternity leave. The company denies wrongdoing, while Arrow says it is now his turn to support the woman who stood beside him through his MND diagnosis.

The wife of former NRL star Jai Arrow has launched legal proceedings against her employer, alleging she was unfairly suspended on the day she was scheduled to return from maternity leave.

Berina Colakovic is taking AI advertising platform StackAdapt to the Federal Court, claiming she experienced workplace discrimination and was denied procedural fairness.

StackAdapt has rejected the allegations, maintaining that its actions followed complaints raised by employees and did not breach workplace law.

Colakovic remains employed by the company and continues to receive her salary while suspended.

A dispute that began before Jai Arrow’s diagnosis

The workplace conflict began several weeks before Arrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and subsequently retired from rugby league.

Colakovic said her decision to pursue the case was about more than financial compensation.

“It’s not just about the money, but the principle,” she told News Corp.

“I have seen it before where women are replaced or demoted while on maternity leave.

“It’s wrong and I don’t want [daughter] Ayla to grow up in a world where this can happen.

“It would be easy to avoid the stress of fighting what’s happened to me, especially at this time, but to me it is wrong and my fight is about discrimination in the workforce.”

Concerns allegedly raised before maternity leave

Colakovic began working for StackAdapt in Canada before moving through its Singapore operation and transferring to Australia in 2019.

Court documents filed by Maurice Blackburn allege that a senior colleague “threatened” her in September 2024 and warned that “performance discussions” could follow unless she managed to “turn the business around”.

She claims this included pressure to dismiss two employees in circumstances she feared could be unlawful. Colakovic later raised her concerns with the company’s human resources department.

The following month, she informed StackAdapt that she was pregnant.

Suspended on the day she was due back

Colakovic took maternity leave and was expected to resume work on May 1, 2026.

Around one week before that date, she was reportedly informed that an earlier workplace investigation would restart and that her team would no longer report directly to her.

On the morning of her planned return, Colakovic was instructed not to begin work at her usual time. She was instead called into a meeting and suspended while a disciplinary process was carried out.

She was also directed not to communicate with colleagues, clients or other company stakeholders.

“I had no idea what the complaints were against me,” Colakovic said.

“When I was told, they were vague, lacking detail and I believe no basis for suspension.”

Maurice Blackburn contacted StackAdapt three days later, describing the suspension as an “ambush” and alleging that Colakovic had not been given procedural fairness.

StackAdapt denies wrongdoing

In its response, StackAdapt alleges Colakovic displayed a “pattern of disengagement” during meetings, was unreceptive to feedback and did not demonstrate sufficient empathy toward some employees.

The company claims certain staff members felt unheard or misunderstood while working with her.

StackAdapt has denied that Colakovic was threatened by a superior and says she had previously “expressed her satisfaction” with the outcome of the complaint she made to human resources.

It also denies that either the investigation or her suspension amounted to unlawful adverse action.

Colakovic’s lawyers allege the company breached the Fair Work Act. They are seeking the withdrawal of the allegations against her, an end to the suspension and her reinstatement as director of sales.

Jai Arrow stands beside his wife

The proceedings were temporarily paused as Colakovic and Arrow dealt with his MND diagnosis and prepared for their July wedding.

Colakovic said the family was now confronting the possibility that both parents could be without work while caring for their young daughter.

Arrow said his wife had supported him throughout the most difficult period of his life and that he would now stand beside her.

“Now it is my turn to support Berina in her fight for what she believes is right,” he said.

“She has been, and is, amazing.”