A former member of the Canadian Forces claimed he wasn`t hired for temporary and full-time cleaning positions at a Manitoba military base because he was a man. But the Human Rights Tribunal said that the Department of National Defence had a legitimate …

A female employee complained that she was having hearing problems because her co-workers were playing their radio too loud. Unhappy with the employer’s and union’s response, she filed a sex and disability discrimination complaint. The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal wasn’t buying. The employer …

A Muslim employee claimed she was fired for wearing a hijab headpiece. The adjudicator found the firm liable for religious discrimination citing a meeting where the HR director told the employee that her “tight short skirt and leggings” violated the firm’s “business attire” …

Paramedics had to be clean-shaven to prevent the face shields of their respirators from leaking. An employee with a skin condition asked for special equipment so he wouldn’t have to shave. The employer dismissed the request as “frivolous” and suspended him for …

While the full-time bartender was on maternity leave and without consulting her, the Royal Canadian Legion reorganized the position into 2 part-time ones. The bartender sued for pregnancy discrimination, claiming that she was still an employee and entitled to get her old position back; the …

Jan.: Gender gap? What gender gap? Okay, the disparity in men’s and women’s pay still exists. But it is shrinking. Key findings from Statistics Canada:

Relative wages of women is growing faster than those of men
Wages of men and …

Drug use may be considered a disability under human rights laws. So, if Company A fires somebody for failing a drug test, it could be liable for disability discrimination. That’s old news. But here’s a new twist: Suppose the individual excluded for testing positive is …

How would you handle this situation? Raj works on a construction site where all personnel must wear hardhats. Raj cares about safety. But donning a hardhat would force him to remove the turban his religion requires him to wear at all times. So he refuses …

A dental assistant claimed she was fired because she was pregnant. We didn’t even know you were pregnant, the employer replied. The court ruled that the employee had the burden of proof and didn’t meet it. So it dismissed her discrimination claim …

Sept.: The Alberta Human Rights Commission issued a revised Interpretive Bulletin clarifying an employer’s duty to accommodate pregnant and breastfeeding employees.

May 1: The Canadian Human Rights Commission published new procedures to facilitate and speed up resolution of discrimination disputes without full blown litigation.

Dec. 31: That’s the deadline to implement a pay equity plan ensuring that men and women holding equivalent positions within your organization receive equal pay.

A teacher born in Cameroon who held a level VI teaching certificate was hired twice as a probationary employee but never got a permanent offer. He claimed discrimination and loss of his Charter right to equality, arguing that he was better qualified …

Oct. 4: According to the new Human Rights Commission’s Annual Report, there were  180 discrimination complaints in 2009-2010 (as compared to 196 in 2009), almost all of them employment-related. Most common grounds: Physical disability (85); Mental disability (52); Age (34); and Sex …