Ontario Human Rights Commission et al. v. Simpson-Sears Ltd.
Religious Accommodation Case: Employer Not Required to Accommodate Seventh Day Adventist Employee
Summary
A human rights case involving a Seventh Day Adventist employee who was reduced to part-time status due to their inability to work on Saturdays for religious reasons. The court examined whether the Ontario Human Rights Code imposes a duty on employers to accommodate religious practices and whether discriminatory intent is required to establish a contravention of section 4(1)(g). The employer's actions were found not to contravene the Code as they acted for legitimate business reasons and no discriminatory intent was established.
Outcome
No contravention of the Ontario Human Rights Code found
Key Factors
- religious accommodation
- Ontario Human Rights Code
- discriminatory intent
- employment conditions
- reasonable accommodation
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