Former employee grills owner of popular Toronto grilled cheese joint

WATCH ABOVE: A former employee of a popular grilled cheese joint in Kensington Market is accusing the owner of illegal business practices. Cindy Pom reports.

TORONTO – A former employee of a popular grilled cheese joint in Kensington Market is accusing the owner of doing dirty business and not paying his workers.

“I just hope other people aren’t taken advantage of,” said Kris Kadas, who started work as a cook and cashier at The Grilled Cheese on Nassau St. in April.

Kadas alleges owner Robbie Yuill paid his employees in cash but didn’t always make good on the promise.

“It was under the table. I knew the risks of that going in. I am owed $850,” said Kadas who claims he stopped getting paid a month into the job.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was under the table. I knew the risks of that going in. I am owed $850," said Kadas who claims he stopped getting paid a month into the job.

When he demanded his wages, Kadas said he was written off the work schedule completely starting in mid-June.

Upon informing Yuill that he was considering legal action, Kadas claims Yuill texted a threatening reply that read: “Hey why don’t you come over here stand right in front of me. My brothers want to talk to you too.”

READ MORE: Popular grilled cheese spot closes after Global News story

On Thursday, Kadas posted his experience on the online forum Reddit that has since garnered hundreds of comments and caused others to come forward about their claims.

A person who claims to have worked at the sandwich shop from late 2012 until 2014 said Yuill was “single-handedly the worst individual I have ever worked for.”

Wishing to remain anonymous, the employee alleges they “remember countless times having to hide money from (Yuill) after a shift, because otherwise he would use the till as his own personal ATM.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: Wishing to remain anonymous, the employee alleges they "remember countless times having to hide money from (Yuill) after a shift, because otherwise he would use the till as his own personal ATM."

The employee also told Global News that staff were paid under the table and if it weren’t for the support of a then manager, she would not have received the cash payments on time or in full.

Even if employees are paid under the table, a legal expert points out that they still have rights.

“Paying employees in cash doesn’t relieve an employer of their obligation to remit taxes or for that matter any severance obligation under the Employment Standards Act,” explained Soma Ray-Ellis, Chair of the Employment Group at the law firm Himelfarb Proszanski.

Kadas has put forth a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board and is waiting to hear back.

Global News has made numerous attempts to contact Yuill. Voicemails, text messages, and emails have not been returned.