Royal Canadian Legion Sends A Chilling Message To Employees: Huffington Post

A former president of the Royal Canadian Legion’s BC/Yukon Command says he was fired after he suspended eight people for allegedly harassing a female staff member on multiple occasions.

Mr. Hodge, who presided over the Legion’s B.C./Yukon Command, investigated a female staff member’s claim that she endured inappropriate remarks about her physical appearance and breasts. Her dress code was also alleged to be the subject of inappropriate questioning. Initially, the Legion appeared to respond swiftly and appropriately, hiring an external human resources firm to investigate the allegations. The firm ultimately found that the allegations were “substantiated.”

As would conceivably be in his authority to do, Mr. Hodge responded to this conclusion by suspending the eight members in question from their positions. Despite this, and for reasons that are presently unclear, Legion headquarters in Ottawa ultimately overturned Mr. Hodge’s decision to suspend one particular member, First Vice-President Valerie MacGregor. In fact, Ms. MacGregor not only had her employment reinstated, but actually enjoyed a promotion to the position of president of the B.C. Legion, thereby ousting Mr. Hodge from his position.

A Vancouver employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP explained on the Huffington Post why the Royal Canadian Legion’s reaction sends a chilling message to employees.