Downtown Café Uses Dubious Contract To Make Staff Pay For Certain Losses | Eater Montreal

"A downtown cafe tied to a non-profit and adjacent medical clinic, Café Pacefika recently introduced a contract addendum saying staff "will be held financially responsible for any breakage or loss caused by a dishonest or willful act, or by his/her/their gross negligence and/or willful misconduct," a change that angered employees after a convincing scam—where a fake deliveryman who knew staff names and the colour and location of cash envelopes tricked an employee into handing over $500. I note that Montreal police found the employee not at fault and the owners say they agree, and Quebec’s Normes du Travail reiterated employers cannot oblige workers to pay for business losses or deduct pay to cover them. Co-owner Shuvo Ghosh and manager Andrea Karpman say the addendum is meant to hold staff accountable and would only apply in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct and that pay withholding is not allowed, but employees say they were pressured to voluntarily repay the $500 and received emails from management urging them to "make some offer to rectify the situation" and suggesting the team help cover the loss. The shop's original contract also reportedly includes a non-disclosure agreement and a 12-month, 5-kilometre non-compete, clauses employees describe as unusual for baristas and part of a tense workplace; management defends these provisions as protective measures." - Tim Forster