Frustrated! Pussers employees seek attorney for severance pay owed
Employees of Pusser’s are joining together to hire an attorney to file a lawsuit against the restaurant’s owner, Mark Vanterpool, who they accuse of neglecting to make severance payments owed for months.
Vanterpool acquired Pusser’s back in March. And as part of the sale agreement between himself and the restaurant’s previous owner, Charles Tobias, Vanterpool is required to pay severance.
According to employees who spoke to our news centre anonymously because of fear of victimisation, Vanterpool agreed to make the payments in parts. These payments were to be made on the 15th of every month until everyone was fully paid.
This exercise was expected to last for a few months, but according to staff members who expressed that they are emotionally and financially frustrated, most have only received two payments so far.
They say Vanterpool — a legislator for roughly two decades — has remained virtually silent up till last week when his management team advised that he would make the outstanding severance payments by Monday of this week. However, the employees told BVI News it turned out to be an empty promise.
“The staff feel insulted and neglected, especially from Mark who champions himself to be the people’s man,” one employee told our news centre.
Insult to injury
BVI News understands that because of the acquisition, the expat workers who were employed with Pusser’s were instructed to transfer their permits and Immigration status to K-Mark’s Foods, which is said to be the parent company of Vanterpool’s supermarket, OneMart.
However, after paying out of pocket for the transfer, a considerable number of the staff members were laid off.
“Some people had recently transferred their permit over to OneMart giving that it’s a new company. [They] paid hundreds of dollars only to get a dismissal letter two weeks later,” another employee stated, adding that the majority of persons who were dismissed are persons who’ve been employed to Pusser’s for years.
That lay-off is said to be in relation to an ultimatum from Vanterpool’s management staff to get vaccinated or lose their job.
“I’ve been home almost three months now … How do you owe people money then fire them? Does that make sense?” the employee questioned.
“Our plan now is to get a lawyer,” our news centre was then told.
Vanterpool could not be reached for comment.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
And other businesses owe monies to people. Don’t just list Pussers. Lay them all out there
I agree. I was laid off after the hurricane and by boss put me through hell to get my own money. He gave me every excuse in the book as to why he couldn’t pay me, but yet he found money to hire DR nationals. One day the wickedness will end.
A lot of people chose not to pay what they owed after Irma. Set of old th***es
He is a c***inal. Where is the labour department? Because he us a politrikcian he can abuse the poor people. Just get a class law suit against him and the company.
Did this man lay off the entire maintenance staff with a WhatsApp? The entire senior Management with a single letter and all the chefs?…
Mr. Mark is no longer the action man. I don’t know what to call him now.
the shark
PUSSERS????? THERE IS NO PUSSERS ANYMORE , THE EXPERIENCE, THE PEOPLE ,THE FOOD — EVERYTHING KINDA CHANGE
So in agreement with you. Some times things are left alone. The service and food has gone down the drain. The one west end has been closed for months.
This cry was about the employees not getting their severance pay and being mistreated not the service and food. Maybe because they are unpaid or not being paid at all or they’re being paid late.
wow this is so d**n wrong ,not nice to treat people sir
This man firing unvaxx employees and the people is silent.it needs a committee to represent the unvaxx community.
Residents of other countries being victimized for not taking the vax are marching in the streets, but here…. silence
just the logical acceptance that a nation dependent on tourist dollars needs to follow the science.
This isnt the only crime mr shady pool is committing…no prices on display in his store, makes you wonder what is being hidden?
Ok so I will take a stand. As a BVIslander who does not support doing wrong to people no matter where they are from, I WILL NOT BE patronizing…
oh my gohs! wow descrimination wowww GOD DEAL WITH THIS PEPLE PLEASE! IF IS TRUTH
Mark pay the people you signed the papers now you don’t want to pay not fair disrespect and out of order what you don’t like don’t give
Tobias left Mark holding the bag. What an easy out.
Not surprised!
This man has a m****l disorder. Im not being funny or insulting. This is dangerous…
Not a good investment especially in this time unless it comes with real estate and not just going concern and good will. should have done better research of the company before jumping in.
he needed a place to hide his s****n government money.
The severance money was left by the previous owner Mr. Charles Tobiass to pay off the staff. It does not belong ‘To the people’s C** MAN MARK VANTERPOOL’.
The Funds should have been placed in an escrow account!!! They were NOT Pussers, MARK give the people their ?. If you do not, that is called stealing and you will be called a t***f!
The severance money was left by the previous owner Mr. Charles Tobiass to pay off the staff. It does not belong ‘To the people’s C** MAN MARK VANTERPOOL’.
Mark may have promised to pay the severance but dont forget he sometimes change his mind quickly just ask Willock.
@Yawn
Well said!?
The man never say he not paying .some of you chat to much .. he ask to give him time
Wickedness never cease to stop in this place and employers getting away with too much. It doesn’t make sense going to Labour as there is no satisfaction there. No justice for less fortunate in the BVI, it’s a one sided world here. Employers always win no matter what which is such a shame.
God help us…
One of the crazier BVI labour laws, (there are a lot,) is that new owners of a company means that the staff must be paid severance pay. Most places the benefits just carry on.
Why pussers didn pay out the staff and let kmart take who they want as staff with the new company ?
Why the new owner of Pusser’s didn’t refuse to purchase the business if they knew that they couldn’t pay the severance? That was the deal and they accepted it so why now they can not take responsibility?
According to this article the deal upon purchasing the business was for new Owner, Mark Vanterpool, to pay the employees their severance. He bought the company knowing that which means that he accepted the deal. So why now he can not pay the people?
Exactly…. Tobias should have dealt with his staff… and then let mark rehire who he wants and let go who he don’t want… it’s his right ..
Poor management or evil and cheating leadership and them talking about slavery.
After working at a particular high end clothing and electronic store for more than thirty years, 4 years ago I was laid off and told I would be called back when business is back and running, after so many years business is booming and I was not called back to work nor given severance pay, I was left with nothing to show after 30 years of hard work and dedication. Labour informed me that they will work on getting what I deserve but up to now nothing. This place is for the wealthy and no one else. But there is a God above one day they will rip what they sow.
Only an evil minded person can do that to another person. That is so wrong! Shame on the Labour Department that after 4 years you are still waiting. But you are right, God doesn’t sleep. Trust him he will do for you what you cannot do for yourself! Your story touched me! That’s just not right!
I’m in a similar situation myself but there’s no justice with the labour department for sure. I know I wouldn’t get any justice with them so I stop worry.
Employers always get away with stuff around here & win us every time but when God ready for them they will know. Every tear drop that falls on the ground will not go in vain. God don’t sleep. All of them will pay one day to come. #Karma#