Human Rights

two women with strollers speak outside

Firing pregnant employees costs employers

Firing pregnant employees can be costly – and rightly so. Even if an employer dismisses a pregnant employee for non-discriminatory reasons (such as downsizing), courts will consider the impact of a pregnancy on an employee’s job search. This means larger wrongful dismissal awards or severance packages.

Young blond child smiles while holding teddy bear in classroom

Gender identity lessons for grade one student (and her teddy bears) not discriminatory

Earlier this month the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed an application brought on behalf of an elementary school student. The application alleged that the public school board had discriminated against a student on the basis of sex and (ironically) gender identity when her grade one teacher taught the class about gender identity. Specifically, the …

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Person smiles on sunny day holding trans pride flag

MMH case affirms that misgendering, outing employees is workplace discrimination

In a recent decision, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario affirmed the rights of trans workers to be treated with respect in the workplace. Sarah Molyneaux represented 3 workers who quit their jobs after their employer repeatedly misgendered them by failing to use correct pronouns, outed them as trans and used a transphobic slur in …

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Trans workers’ rights are human rights: Building trans inclusive workplaces

On Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember lives lost to hateful violence or neglect. We also remember the role that we have to play in supporting trans folks in their pursuit of justice and liberation. Unfortunately, the workplace continues to be a site of violence and discrimination for many trans workers and non-binary workers- and …

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