Question: My husband and I manage a lodge in BC. We have not been paid any expenses or gratuities since November 2008. Our employers live in Alberta. We have talked to our employers several times personally and by letter and email. We have been promised payment over and over again and have yet to receive a cent. Also our monthly pays have been returned NSF 4 times now since we began 2 years ago. We have done everything to request payment, but nothing. We have been told recently that the property has been put up for sale and we are now afraid we will never see our money. The amount is in excess of 10,000. Any advice would be welcomed and appreciated.
Many thanks,
Frustrated in the Mountains
Answer: The Wage Earners Protection Act may protect you for a portion of your wages, if your employer goes bankrupt. Your provincial labour standards board can help you with the collection of unpaid salary or renumeration and or severance. It is important to retain copies of your letters, emails and NSF cheques and provide them with copies as support for your claim.
We have had clients in your exact situation. The debate is wether you go with the status quo, have a roof over your head and hope for the best or pack up and leave. If, as we suspect the lack of real wages has put you behind the eight ball and you don’t have the cash to put down a security deposit or pay your first months rent you have fewer options. There is a real risk that this will happen regardless. Doing nothing, is usualy not the right course of action. Contacting labour standards should be your first step, where you can seek confirmation of your rights in B.C.