Isabelle Faure did her best to wait patiently for the $5,000 her former boss owed her. It was only after a “long series of letdowns” — and an invasive surgery that left her unable to earn money for four months — that angry desperation set in.It’s been a year and a half since she gathered meticulous documentation of unpaid wages at downtown barber Mankind Grooming, obtained a ruling in her favour by the Ministry of Labour, and emailed dozens of increasingly desperate pleas to the authorities for help.But 20 months since she first filed her claim to the ministry, Faure is still out of pocket — leaving her wondering whether the system meant to protect her is fit for purpose.“When I brought my evidence into the ministry I was told repeatedly that I was one of the most organized people they’d ever seen,” she said. “If I can’t get justice, who can?”When the Star called Mankind, a man who identified himself only as Ajay said Faure’s payment had recently been sent. Subsequent questions sent by the Star by email did not receive a response. Faure says she’s received “no notification” that payment is on its way. The Toronto-based hairstylist began working at Mankind, known for its high-end grooming services, in 2014. Her pay was supposed to be based on commission from her total sales. According to evidence she submitted to the ministry in March 2018, her earnings were miscalculated for the duration of that period, as was the public holiday pay she was entitled to.In the ministry decision seen by the Star, Mankind didn’t dispute that Faure was owed an “unknown amount of unpaid wages,” blaming the underpayment on a “payroll system issue.”But because Ontario law only allows employment standards claims that go back two years or less, the ministry found Faure was only owed unpaid wages from March 2016 to March 2018.In October last year, it ordered Mankin ...
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