Employer’s penny pinching from workers after Ontario minimum wage hike

by Barry Hazelhurst

Some employers in Ontario are finding ways to strengthen their bottom line after the minimum wage hike by decreasing benefits, tips, and other employee entitlements.

The Liberal government in Ontario tried to level the wage playing field by increasing the minimum wage by $2.40 to $14 per hour on Jan. 1.

Tim Hortons has seen the largest amount of pushback from employees across Ontario with protests at many of its restaurants. The children of the billionaire co-founders of Tim Hortons Jerri Horton-Joyce and Ron Joyce Junior, implemented  controversial measures unpaid breaks and increasing benefits contributions at two Ontario locations they own. Demonstrators have since gathered at more than 42 Tim Hortons locations across Ontario to challenge and show their dislike of the changes.

The wage increase is a hot topic for all workers.

Elesa Lesperance, a fast food worker in Windsor benefits from the increase in minimum wage and says not much has changed for her.

“I was happy the Ontario government was finally recognizing that $11.60 was not enough to live decently on,” said Lesperance. “The only change to my employment that I have felt is the increase in pay which is long overdue.”

According to povertyfreeontario.ca the amount a single person in Ontario makes to be considered at or under the poverty line is $19,930 a year. The majority of minimum wage earners in Ontario who are working no more than a 35-hour week are still below this level.

The minimum wage increase is a larger part of the legislation intended to improve employment conditions in Ontario.

According to the Financial Post, such changes include anyone working less than three hours to be paid for three hours. Also, if an employer cancels an employee’s shift without adequate notice, the employee will be paid for three hours.

The minimum wage will increase by another $1 per hour to $15.00 by Jan. 1^, 2019.