Employment lawyer on workplace dismissals as a result of vaccination status

Vaccine mandates across Canada have led to widespread terminations and many more employees are currently facing unemployment if they are unvaccinated by upcoming deadlines. While this issue has created tension in many industries and workplaces, there are legal repercussions that employers have to consider when implementing vaccine policies.

Lior Samfiru, a Toronto employment lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with Global News’ Saba Aziz to comment on the ongoing issue and employee rights.

“The employer has to show that the employee cannot do their job safely unless they’re vaccinated,” says Samfiru. “The problem with that is that in Ontario and across Canada, for most employees, the government has decided that the work can be done safely even without a vaccine.”

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Samfiru goes on to explain that over the past year there has been an increased rise in terminations in a manner that he has never seen before. “There are many of these cases right now that are in various stages of legal proceedings where employees that have been let go are pursuing compensation from their former employers,” Samfiru states.

Samfiru reiterates that apart from employees who work in sectors in which there is a government mandate regarding COVID-19 vaccines, most employees who have been terminated will be able to pursue their severance entitlements.