B.C Ski resort fires staff for breaking COVID-19 guidelines

Staff at Big White Ski resort in Vancouver have been terminated after video and reports of a party on resort property were discovered. While some staff were directly violating COVID-19 guidelines, should employees have been terminated? Did the employer have other options in terms of disciplinary measures?

A Vancouver employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joins Lynda Steele on Global News Radio’s 980 CKNW to answer questions on terminations for cause and more.

Was Big White Ski Resort within its rights to fire employees?

An employer can terminate their employees without cause at any time as long as proper severance entitlements are offered. However, a termination for cause implies no notice or severance will be offered. There are limited and serious circumstances in which employees are not given a second chance or other disciplinary measures before termination. In this case, Big White could argue that though this was a one-time event, they’re justified at termination as employees showed a lack of judgement and posed a health and safety risk to other staff and the public.