A woman was fired after six weeks on the job. She took her employer to court.
According to Rex Murphy, the biggest bone of contention was the food the employee brought for lunch. She warmed it up in the microwave and her employer thought it smelled too much.
The Ontario Human Rights tribunal decided in favour of the employee. The argument qualified as a case of discrimination based on race, ancestry, ethnic origin and place of origin.
“Nothing in the evidence suggests that the respondents deliberately targeted the applicant for discriminatory enforcement of the microwave policy,” concluded the tribunal. “However, the applicant argued that she was adversely affected by the enforcement of the policy.”
The tribunal
ordered fines and costs totalling $36,000 against the employer, Ms. Tefler. Since the accused had little money, the lawyers working for the complainant decided they would go after the woman’s house — have it auctioned off
The Ontario Superior Court overruled the decision







