Employment lawyer on firing 440 unvaccinated workers in Hamilton

The city of Hamilton plans to fire 440 unvaccinated employees next month and many are questioning this decision and the practicality of this choice at this stage in the pandemic. Could the city face further legal and financial difficulties as a result?

Chantel Goldsmith, a Toronto employment lawyer and partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke to the Hamilton Spectator regarding the ongoing issue and the consequences for employers who choose to impose vaccine mandates.

“To take a harsh stance on the vaccination mandate policies for employers, especially at this point in our COVID lives, I think we can look at this and say that’s really unreasonable in the circumstances,” says Goldsmith. “And I really do think that the courts or the arbitrators will agree that this is unreasonable.”