OK to Fire Courier for Receiving Package Containing Marijuana at Work

Because it reeked of marijuana, the manager took the liberty of opening a registered package addressed to a courier who worked for the company. Sure enough, it contained pot and the courier was fired. The courier denied knowing anything about the package even though it was mailed by his brother. But the Sask. court ruled that the courier was an independent contractor and the company had just cause to end his contract. Tolerating drug use by drivers could lead to criminal charges and destroy the company’s business, the court reasoned [Den Hollander v. Tiger Courier Inc., [2012] S.J. No. 10, Jan. 6, 2012].