Tori & Cate's Cupcakes Christina D'Onforio lost wages, verbal abuse, physical force, wrongful dismissal Toronto Ontario Canada

I was hired full time by Christina D'onforio, owner of Tori and Cate's Cupcakes before the business opened in November 2013. In good faith, I worked hard for 5 months and put in all my effort. I lent my artistic skill, which I have developed over 20 plus years of making wedding cakes. 

I was often on standby, receiving texts asking me to come into work on the night before a shift, despite the distance I had to travel by TTC to make it to their location on Bayview. Under financial pressures that we all experience in business, Christina failed to pay me more than once, fabricating stories about lost mail.

When I finally confronted Christina in person to ask for my pay, I was fired on the spot with no explanation, and physically pushed out the door. Christina threw my belongings on the street curb and uttered hateful comments to me. Her husband and daughter witnessed it all. I quickly learned I was not the only employee to be treated this way.

Finally I was forced to file a complaint with the Labour Board. The ruling was made in August 2014 in my favour and Tori and Cate's Cupcakes was ordered to pay me my wages in full. I am still waiting for my wages. As an artist and single mother of 3, this has been a nightmare. Please do not support this exploitative business.