Termination upheld after employee is fired for harassment: Employment lawyer discusses with HR Reporter

Interview Summary

A former unionized employee in Ontario was terminated for cause due to bullying and harassment in the workplace. After an investigation was conducted, the employee was let go despite the union’s assertion that disciplinary action occurred after the inappropriate behaviour took place. What rights do employers have to terminate employees “for cause” due to workplace harassment? Should progressive discipline always take precedence over termination?

Jon Pinkus, a Toronto employment lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joined the HR Reporter’s Jeffrey Smith to discuss the decision and employee rights, as well as employer obligations.

Related Resources

For further insights and discussions related to harassment in the workplace, explore the following resources:

• Workplace Investigations
• Harassment in the workplace