OK to Fire Employee for Forklift Daredevilry

While “turning donuts” on his forklift, i.e., deliberately speeding into a puddle, slamming the brakes and wrenching the wheel to cause a spin, a recycling company employee lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a concrete wall. Nobody got hurt but it cost the employee his job. It was a stupid and dangerous stunt, said the Labour Board, especially considering that the employee served on the company safety committee. And the fact that he initially denied the incident was even more reason to uphold the decision to terminate him without notice [Sims Group Recycling Solutions Canada Ltd. v. Barrett, [2012] CanLII 60602 (ON LRB), Oct. 10, 2012].