‘Where’s our money?’ Hair Cuttery stylists say they won’t be paid for a week’s work

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thousands of people have lost their jobs across the Jacksonville area – and local employees for one company said they’re not going to be paid for days they already worked. WATCH CBS47 FOR LATEST

Hair Cuttery employees said they were notified that they won’t be paid for a full week due to the pandemic.

Holly Elizabeth Renaud didn’t just cut hair for work, she enjoyed it. She worked at the location in Julington Creek.

Multiple workers tell Action News Jax, earlier this month, employees of Ratner Companies- the parent company- received a video message from the President and Chief Operating Officer, Phil Horvath.

Action News Jax obtained that video.

“At this time, we are not able to fund any amount on the paychecks due on [April 7],” Horvath said in the video.

“We were told to continue working up until March 21, but then, in the video, they requested us to change the date into March 15 on our unemployment, so that was a shock,” Renaud said.

Renaud said she worked that entire week in question.

“I cut people’s hair, I colored people’s hair, and I’m not getting paid for it,” Renaud said. “Those people paid for the services, and so where’s our money?”

Knowing there are likely countless other workers across the country in similar circumstances, we asked Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson if this is legal, even in a pandemic.

“No,” Carson said. “You can’t take labor and not compensate them for it.”

For help, Carson said first, a worker should alert a company in writing that they haven’t been paid.

Then, they can file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.

If they believe they’ve been discriminated against, he said they can also file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Adam Malamut, one of the attorneys handling a class action lawsuit on behalf of the employees, sent Action News Jax the following statement:

“I know first hand the difficulties of managing a business through this crisis. But above all else, your employees must come first, and failing to pay employees for the hours they have already worked is completely unacceptable. Even in normal times, this would be an injustice, let alone when people around the country are trying to make ends meet. I’m proud to have our firm fight for the wages these hard working women and men deserve.”

Carson said even if a worker does all this, if the company files for bankruptcy, they may not see any money.

Renaud just wants answers.

“They really emphasized us being a family, and so for this to happen, it’s just kind of a shock and a disappointment,” Renaud said.

Action News Jax made repeated attempts to contact Ratner Companies Wednesday and hasn’t heard back.

For those who want to learn more about the class action lawsuit being filed by Malamut & Associates, click here.

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