640 Toronto – Woman Ordered to Pay $41K in Damages to Live-in Nanny

The Quebec Human Rights Commission has sided with a Filipina live-in caregiver and orders she be compensated $41,600 in damages by her former employer.

Gelyn Dasoc-Hilot left the Philippines in 2012 for a better life in Canada. She arrived in Montreal with a work permit and a job lined up: she was hired to take care of a Côte Saint-Luc woman’s four children.

But she didn’t expect she’d be working, at times, for free. “I work at 8 a.m. or 7 a.m., and I finish at 10 or 11 o’clock,” she said. “But they only pay me a minimum.”

Dasoc-Hilot said her responsibilities also included, cleaning, cooking, washing the family vehicles, caring for pets and doing the yard work. She said her contract stipulated a 40-hour work week, but she worked 65 hours.

The overtime was not paid.

Dasoc-Hilot said when she asked to be paid, her employed threatened to have her deported.

Employment Lawyer Jon Pinkus joined host Tasha Kheiriddin on Global News Radio 640 Toronto to discuss an employee’s workplace rights under provincial and federal law, and what to do when an employer is ignoring those laws. He also provided advice for employers.