Employees at the Cobourg Tim Hortons location on Division Street owned by Ron Joyce Jr. Enterprises say they have been told to sign a document acknowledging they are losing paid breaks, paid benefits, and other incentives as a result of the province’s minimum wage hike.
Before Christmas, the letter was sent out by Ron Joyce Jr. and Jeri-Lynn Horton-Joyce, the son, and daughter of the chain’s co-founders, Ron Joyce, and the late Tim Horton.
“These changes are due to the increase of wages to $14.00 minimum wage on January 1, 2018, then $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, as well as the lack of assistance and financial help from our Head Office and from the Government.”
After obtaining a picture of the document from a Facebook post made by Chris Fisher, the picture grew in popularity and was shared over a thousand times. Cobourg Media reached out to a friend of the employee who received that letter and asked to remain anonymous.
“Employees of this Tim Hortons are now being threatened with their jobs. These particular owners own 3-4 Tim Hortons restaurants. This is just pure greed and an insult to these hardworking employees so the owners can vacation in Florida for the winter… Disgusting and greedy.”
The letter to employees consisted of changes involving breaks, benefits and time off:
“Dear Team Members:
It is with great regret that Ron Joyce Jr. Enterprises Ltd. (Tim Hortons) finds it necessary to make the following changes to our incentive programs, paid breaks, and policies. These changes are due to the increase of wages to $14.00 minimum wage on January 2, 2018, then $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, as well as the lack of assistance and financial help from our Head Office and from the Government. The decisions of the follow are the results of intense discussions with management and numerous small business owners in the area and other franchise owners.
Breaks will no longer be paid. A 9 hour shift will be paid for 8 hours and 20 minutes; 8 hour shift will be paid 7 hours and 30 minutes; 7 hour shift will be paid 6 hours and 30 minutes; 6 hours shift will be paid 5 hours and 30 minutes; 5 hour shift will be paid 4 hours and 45 minutes; 4 hour shift will be paid 3 hours and 45 minutes; 3 hours shift will be paid 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The incentives of working your birthday and the day off with pay after six months of not calling in are cancelled. The incentives of receiving bonus’ for covering shifts when called on days off and a day of pay for a death in your immediate family will continue.
Dental and Health Benefits will continue, but members will be required to cover the cost of the benefits by the following: Over 5 years of employment will pay 50% of the cost of their benefits. Employees will 6 months up to 5 years will pay 75% of their benefits cost. Any employee may cancel their benefits if they wish. Please let us know as soon as possible. We apologize for these changes. Once the costs of the future are better know we may bring back some or all of the benefits we have had to remove. All the above will become effective January 1, 2018.”
A statement made by Tim Hortons corporate media relations said that it’s up to the small business owners on this matter:
“Almost all of our restaurants in Canada are independently owned and operated by small business Owners who are responsible for handling all employment matters, including all policies for benefits and wages, for their restaurants.”
“Restaurant Owners are expected to comply with all applicable laws and regulations within their jurisdiction.”
Non-union employees in Ontario are covered by the Employment Standards Act. This doesn’t require employers to give employees coffee breaks or any other kind of break other than eating periods. Meal breaks are unpaid unless the employee’s employment contract requires payment.
Since the circulation of social media posts and the publication of a CBC News article, local residents and coffee drinkers from coast to coast are upset and acknowledge the growing concern with the hike in Minimum Wage.
Another employee said that with unpaid breaks and having to pay 50 per cent of the cost of benefits, their biweekly paycheck will actually be $51 dollars lower than it was before the minimum wage hike. >Tim Hortons, Cobourg ON
— SunnyRoads???? (@SeedyRoads) January 3, 2018
They should be utterly ashamed. Billionaires taking money out of the pockets of minimum wage earners while they winter in Florida, maybe at at Mara lago, have the same ideals. It’s NOT your employees fault! Don’t punish them. I will Never go there ever ever again
— Toban (@jcdix) January 3, 2018
Time to buy coffee somewhere else perhaps?
— Joanne Cutler (@JoanneCutler21) January 3, 2018
Even on Facebook, customers are turning away from purchasing Tim Hortons.
“People are talking about boycotting their stores, and saying they’ll go to other ones just because of this. I defiantly won’t go to that location that’s for sure.”
Employees say the owners of the franchises are currently at their winter home in Florida.
Graham Beer- [email protected]