Women’s rights at the workplace post-pandemic

Interview Summary

On International Women’s Day, questions and concerns surrounding women’s rights in the workplace have arisen. What are women facing in the workplace after the pandemic and how has COVID-19 fundamentally changed the work environment? How might women and non-binary employees facing discrimination pursue their rights?

Mackenzie Irwin, a Toronto employment lawyer and associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joins Scott Thompson on 900 CHML to answer these questions and more.

Interview Notes

Have we moved the needle in terms of gender discrimination at the workplace?

Even though there have been strides made towards gender equality in the workplace there is still room for growth. There are still many challenges employees face in the workplace, such as harassment as well as other issues which are more subtle.

How do employees balance or police subtle situations of discrimination at work?

It is much more common for subtle instances of gender discrimination to take place at work than glaring abuses. It is also not common practice for employers to disclose the salaries of their employees, which makes instances of pay discrepancies hard to prove. Under the Pay Equity Act, there is a legal right for equal pay under equal work for all employees. Employees who feel that they are being paid unfairly can file a complaint under the Pay Equity Act and an investigation will be launched. It is important to note that this is difficult to prove and employees should speak to an employment lawyer to determine their next steps.

Are companies more sensitive to pay inequities and gender discrimination now?

In terms of media coverage, there is more attention paid to pay discrepancies in the workplaces. Media attention often forces workplaces to investigate and resolve issues of inequalities at the workplace.

Are women in two-income households more likely to face pay inequities?

Employees who are being paid less as a result of their household status are not only facing gender discrimination but also potentially discrimination under family status. Employees who are facing these types of issues should speak to an employment lawyer to determine their options.

How has the pandemic affected women’s rights in the workplace?

Many studies have shown that the pandemic has disproportionately affected women in the workplace. A large number of women have not been able to return to the workplace as a result of COVID-19. It has taken a much longer time for women to be recalled to work or find new employment.