The Canadian Industrial Relations Board has rejected a worker’s complaint that her employer discriminated against her for refusing genetic code testing when she was placed on unpaid leave for non-compliance with a mandatory vaccination policy.
The worker was employed with Canada Post. On Oct. 29, 2021, Canada Post implemented a mandatory vaccination policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status by Nov. 12. Employees who didn’t comply would be placed on administrative leave without pay two weeks later, unless they were granted a human rights-related exemption.
On Nov. 15, the union grieved the vaccination policy and also sought an interlocutory cease-and-desist order. However, both the interlocutory order and the grievance were dismissed by arbitrators, with the latter occurring on April 27, 2022.
