Looking for a human rights lawyer in Vancouver? If you’ve been treated unfairly at work because of your age, disability, race, religion, pregnancy or another legally protected reason, you may have a legal claim.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help Vancouver employees fight workplace discrimination, challenge unfair dismissal and get the compensation they’re owed.

⚠️ Fired or treated unfairly at work? Your employer can’t ignore your human rights. Before you resign, accept a severance offer or sign anything, find out what you’re legally owed.

➡️ Get a Consultation or call 1-855-821-5900.

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How Our Vancouver Human Rights Lawyers Help Employees

You shouldn’t have to choose between protecting your rights and protecting your job.

Our Vancouver employment lawyers help employees who have been:

  • Discriminated against: Treated unfairly because of age, disability, race, religion, pregnancy or another protected reason.
  • Denied accommodation: Refused reasonable changes to their job or schedule because of a medical condition or another protected need.
  • Harassed: Targeted by discriminatory comments, behaviour or treatment at work.
  • Punished for speaking up: Disciplined, threatened or dismissed for making or supporting a human rights complaint.
  • Wrongfully dismissed: Fired for a discriminatory reason or without receiving proper severance.

We can review what happened, explain your legal options, negotiate with your employer and pursue compensation through the appropriate legal process.

Are You Facing Discrimination at Work?

BC’s Human Rights Code protects employees from discrimination based on personal characteristics such as disability, race, age, sex and religion.

Here are some common workplace situations where your rights may have been violated.

Fired or Disciplined Because of a Disability

Your employer learns about a medical condition, then reduces your hours, disciplines you for disability-related absences or fires you.

Employers must consider reasonable workplace accommodation in BC, up to the point of undue hardship.

Treated Unfairly Because of Your Age, Race or Religion

You’re denied a promotion, excluded from opportunities or treated differently because of a protected personal characteristic.

An employer can’t justify discrimination simply by calling it a business decision.

Fired or Penalized Because of Pregnancy

Your employer finds out you’re pregnant and suddenly changes your responsibilities, denies a promotion or terminates your employment.

Pregnancy-related discrimination is prohibited under BC human rights law.

Harassed or Punished for Reporting Discrimination

You report discriminatory treatment, and your employer responds by threatening your job, cutting your hours or firing you.

The law protects employees against retaliation connected to human rights complaints.

Your Employer Ignored Signs of a Disability

Your employer knows you may be struggling with a medical condition but disciplines or dismisses you without considering whether you need accommodation.

In some circumstances, the employer has a legal duty to inquire in BC.

For more examples and an explanation of what the law considers discrimination, read our Workplace Discrimination BC guide.

Our Vancouver Human Rights Lawyers

Our Vancouver employment law team helps employees resolve disputes involving workplace discrimination, disability accommodation, wrongful dismissal and severance pay in BC.

Dan Balkaran

Dan Balkaran leads Samfiru Tumarkin LLP’s BC employment law practice. He helps employees resolve workplace disputes involving human rights, termination and severance.

Spencer Sloane

Spencer Sloane represents BC employees in employment and human rights disputes, including matters before the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Jon Davidescu

Jon Davidescu assists BC employees with workplace disputes, including discrimination, wrongful dismissal and severance claims.

Our team helps non-unionized employees across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

What Compensation Could You Receive?

If your employer violated your human rights, you may be entitled to compensation. What you’re owed depends on what happened and how it affected you.

Compensation and other remedies may include:

  • Lost income: Wages or benefits you lost because of discrimination.
  • Emotional harm: Compensation for the personal impact of discrimination, legally known as injury to dignity.
  • Workplace changes: Orders requiring an employer to address discrimination or, in appropriate cases, return an employee to work.
  • Severance pay: Compensation you may be owed if your employment was terminated.

What if you were fired?

If you’ve lost your job, you may have both a human rights claim and a wrongful dismissal claim.

For eligible employees, full severance can reach up to 24 months’ pay, depending on factors such as age, position, length of service and the employment agreement.

Human rights compensation is separate from severance. You may be entitled to both, although you can’t recover the same loss twice.

💡 What is your case worth? There’s no automatic payout for workplace discrimination. Our lawyers can assess your situation and explain what compensation may be available.

➡️ Find Out What You’re Owed.

Why Choose Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?

When your job, income and rights are at stake, you need lawyers who understand both employment law and workplace human rights.

  • Experienced BC lawyers: Our team handles workplace discrimination, accommodation disputes and wrongful dismissal claims.
  • Local representation: We help employees throughout Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and British Columbia.
  • Full employment law support: We examine both your human rights and any severance you may be owed.
  • A recognized law firm: Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has been recognized among Canada’s Best Law Firms by The Globe and Mail.
  • Clear legal advice: We explain your options in plain language and work toward an appropriate resolution.

Learn more about our Vancouver employment lawyers.

What Should You Do if Your Rights Have Been Violated?

If you believe your employer has discriminated against you:

  1. Write down what happened. Record dates, comments, decisions and who was involved.
  2. Keep your records. Save relevant emails, messages, reviews and employment documents you can lawfully retain.
  3. Don’t resign or sign anything without advice. You could affect your rights to severance or compensation.
  4. Act promptly. The usual deadline for a BC human rights complaint is one year.
  5. Speak with an employment lawyer. Find out whether your employer broke the law and what you could be owed.

⚠️ Don’t miss your deadline. Most BC human rights complaints must be filed within one year of the alleged discrimination. Don’t assume discussions with your employer extend that deadline.

For more information about your legal protections, read our Workplace Human Rights BC guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I contact a human rights lawyer in Vancouver?

Contact a lawyer if you’ve been discriminated against at work, denied accommodation, punished for reporting discrimination or fired for a reason connected to your human rights. Getting advice before resigning or signing an agreement can help protect your options.

Can I take legal action against my employer for discrimination?

Yes. You may be able to file a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. If you’ve been fired, you may also have a wrongful dismissal claim.

How much compensation can I get for workplace discrimination?

The amount depends on your case. Compensation can include lost income and payment for the emotional harm caused by discrimination. If you’ve been fired, you may also be owed severance pay.

How long do I have to file a human rights complaint in BC?

The usual deadline is one year from the alleged discrimination or retaliation. Different rules can apply to continuing discrimination and certain late complaints.

Do I need a lawyer to file a human rights complaint?

No. You can file a complaint yourself. A lawyer can help you understand the strength of your case, what evidence you need and what compensation you may be entitled to.

Do your Vancouver lawyers handle every type of human rights complaint?

Our lawyers focus on human rights matters connected to employment, such as workplace discrimination, accommodation and dismissal. We don’t handle unrelated complaints involving housing or public services.

Speak With a Human Rights Lawyer in Vancouver

If you’ve been treated unfairly at work because of your disability, age, race, religion, pregnancy or another protected reason, you don’t have to accept your employer’s decision without understanding your rights.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can review your situation, explain your legal options and help you pursue the compensation you’re owed.

Serving: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and the surrounding Lower Mainland.

Before you sign, always check first.

➡️ Get a Consultation or call 1-855-821-5900.

Advice You Need. Compensation You Deserve.

Consult with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. We are one of Canada's most experienced and trusted employment, labour and disability law firms. Take advantage of our years of experience and success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.

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