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
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca