VIB Event Staffing Inc. Class Action – Employee Misclassification

On July 6, 2020 Monkhouse Law started a proposed class action against VIB Event Staffing Inc. and its director. 

The lawsuit alleged that VIB Event Staffing Inc. intentionally misclassified its workforce as independent contractors, systematically underpaid staff for hours worked and failed to compensate at a rate equal to minimum wage. 

On April 14th, 2022, the parties reached a settlement agreement in the matter to resolve the action on a without prejudice basis.

SETTLEMENT APPROVED ON JULY 5th, 2022

On July 5, 2022, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has approved the parties’ settlement in this class action. While the Defendants have denied all these allegations, and do not admit any liability, it is important to know that the court did not decide whether the allegations are true or false, but rather than having a lengthy court case, the parties have agreed to avoid the further expense, inconvenience, and burden of this litigation, and to achieve final resolution of all claims that have been asserted, or which could have been asserted.

Full Press Release: Event Caterer Settles Class Action Over Misclassifying Staff

You can read the order approving the settlement here and the endorsement here.

The Short Notice of Certification and Settlement is available here.

The Long Notice of Certification and Settlement is available here.

The Settlement concerns the following class:

All supervisors, servers, waiters, bartenders identified as independent contractors who worked for VIB Staffing Inc. since the year 2010 to December 31, 2021 (“Class Period”), who have not filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour relating to the matters in question unless it was properly withdrawn.

This definition includes but is not limited to supervisors, bartenders, servers, wait-staff, event staff, and any other individuals providing (or who provided at any point during the Class Period) event staffing services to the Defendant on an independent contractor basis during the Class Period such as coat checkers, greeters, dishwashers, kitchen helpers.

ADMINISTRATION OF SETTLEMENT COMPLETE
The administration of the settlement of the class action is now complete. The time to claim a portion of the settlement proceeds expired on October 3, 2022. As of January 13, 2023, all payments have been made to those who have filed valid claims. No further claims can be made.

More Information:
If you submitted a claim and there was an issue with your payment, please call Monkhouse Law at 416-907-9249 and ask for the Class Actions Team.