'They couldn't pay their bills, they were crying': Former Scrubbi head office employee speaks out on workers not receiving pay
A former Scrubbi head office employee says she often spoke to cleaning contractors when they inquired about their missing pay.
"Daily, we were getting about five, six different contractors calling, wanting to get payment," said Sonia Cheeba, a former operations co-ordinator who worked for Scrubbi for nearly a year and a half.
Cheeba admits to taking a lot of calls knowing some contractors would likely never get paid.
"They said that, just tell them that, 'Oh, our payment system, we're trying to figure it out. We'll get you paid out on Friday, next cheque will be out to you,'" said Cheeba. "You just tell them that we know that we have to pay them and we're going to prepare a cheque for them."
She says the tough phone conversations were the main reason she left the Surrey-based, Canada-wide company.
"They couldn't pay their bills, they were crying, some of them got their cars repo'd," she said.
Since CTV News first covered the story on Tuesday, more and more contractors have come forward claiming their pay was delayed or never arrived at all.
"I was owed $619.59 and I was never paid from July 17," said Victoria Teather, a former Scrubbi contracted worker.
Teather shared emails with CTV News showing conversations with Scrubbi staff dating back to July and August 2022. In the emails, Scrubbi acknowledges the missing funds.
"Resolving this error is a top priority for us, and we hope to have this resolved as soon as possible," reads one email dated Aug. 3, 2022.
The company then tried requesting Teather's services for more cleaning jobs before settling the payment issue. Teather declined and resigned from the company.
"We have processed your resignation and working to resolve your pay delay," reads another email from Scrubbi staff dated Aug. 17, 2022.
On Tuesday, Scrubbi sent CTV News the following statement:
"Scrubbi recently transitioned to using a third-party vendor to process payment to its contractors and vendors. During the transition period, some payments did not process properly, which affected a small minority of contractors and vendors. To resolve any outstanding payment issues, Scrubbi encourages the contractors and vendors to reach out directly to Scrubbi."
Scrubbi declined an on-camera interview when CTV News arrived at the company's head office.
So far, three contract workers who appeared on CTV News have since been paid in full by Scrubbi.
With the workers being classified as independent contractors, a B.C. employment lawyer says they have less protection than typical employees and face an uphill battle if they want to take the matter to court.
"It's going to be cost-prohibitive if you're talking about trying to collect $800 and having to pay a lawyer to do that," said Jay Spiro, employment lawyer with Spraggs Law.
"It can either be too complicated to bring forward, too costly, or too time consuming."
Spiro says contractors could go the commercial arbitration route, which can also be costly.
Additionally, he says contractors could also challenge the 'independent contractor' designation with the BC Employment Standards Branch. If the branch were to determine they were employees instead of contractors, then their path to enforcing the payment of wages could be much more cost-effective.
Since CTV News' coverage of Scrubbi began Tuesday, more than 10 contractors from B.C. to Ottawa and two former head office employees have come forward with their stories regarding payment issues at the company.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.