Tim Hortons has ended its relationship with Pierre Pelletier, owner of the Fernie and Crowsnest Pass franchises. Pelletier has been the subject of an Employment Standards Branch investigation since December 2013, after a temporary foreign worker from the Philippines filed a complaint.
"We have terminated our relationship with the Blairmore, Alberta/Fernie, B.C. franchisee for failing to comply with employment standards requirements, a matter Tim Hortons takes very seriously," stated Olga Petrycki, senior manager, public affairs, Tim Hortons Inc.
Former employees Richard Pepito and Heidi Kibanoff were hired at the Fernie location under Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The couple claims that Pelletier made employees pay back a portion of their overtime wages to him in cash. Pelletier is also accused of charging employees the processing fees for renewing their temporary work permits, which according to regulations, the employer is responsible for paying.
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