Proposed class action lawsuit seeks $10M from Sudbury staffing agencies over unpaid training
A proposed class-action lawsuit filed by a Toronto-area firm is seeking $10 million from two Sudbury-area staffing agencies.
The suit alleges workers were unpaid for training hours, in contravention of the Ontario Employment Standards Act. The class action suit has not yet been certified, and the law firm is looking for others in the same situation to join.
The claim alleges Workforce Inc. and SOS (Sudbury) required employees to complete training but did not pay them, and sometimes demanded they pay any costs associated with the training out of their own pockets, again contrary to the Employment Standards Act.
Monkhouse Law Employment Lawyers in Toronto has applied to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to certify the claim by a former client of both agencies.
"Monkhouse Law is also actively seeking others who were not paid for undertaking training programs in contravention of the Ontario Employment Standards Act," the email said.
“At this stage, we are looking to the court to certify this as a class action and to allow the court to deal with the action for the group because there are many others in the same situation,” lawyer Alexandra Monkhouse said in the release.
“This is the first step of the legal journey toward justice because the Employment Standards Act is quite clear about this. Time spent in training that is required by the employer or the law as a condition of employment will be considered working time and must be compensated.”
The claim alleges Workforce and SOS systemically required employees to complete training but did not pay them and sometimes demanded they pay any costs associated with the training out of their own pockets.
“Individually, they could never afford to hire legal counsel and to mount this case but that’s what Class Actions are for,” Monkhouse said.
“This is a group of people who were wronged by the actions of these companies and they deserve compensation. It also sends a strong message to employers not to take advantage of employees.”
The claim seeks $10 million to cover lost wages which includes $4 million in punitive damages.
Anyone in a similar situation in the north is asked to contact their office and share their details at monkhouselaw.com.
Toronto-based Monkhouse Law is an employment law firm specializing in wrongful dismissal, human rights law, labour law, employment insurance claims, and denied long-term disability claims.
None of the allegations in the proposed lawsuit have been tried in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.