Summary of Issue: Ethical Considerations

Decision 72680 Full Text of Decision 72680

The claimant had been recalled to work but failed to return to work. The Commission determined that the claimant had left his employment without just cause and imposed an indefinite disqualification. The reason given by the claimant for refusing to return to his employment was that it was against his religion to eat beef, cut it or handle it. He acknowledged that he had been working at this employment for two years. He had not asked his employer if there could have been another job available for him because this was a slaughtering plant and this was the nature of the work. The appeal is dismissed by the Umpire.

Decision 39118 Full Text of Decision 39118

Disagreed with his employer's editorial policy which had become increasingly conservative and religious in recent years. Claimants are not required to remain in employment when the terms and conditions of employment change dramaticaly over the years. Claimant should not be required to act contrary to his standards of honesty, propriety and conscience. The claimant could not continue to analyse and write in public support of beliefs to which he was strongly opposed.

Decision 37586 Full Text of Decision 37586

Claimant was faced with the alternatives of performing a job which offended his sense of honesty, or confronting the employer and refusing to perform his job or quitting. Umpire ruled that claimants are not required to remain in employment which offends their ethical values and his satisfied that in this case the claimant had no resonable alternative but to leave and therefore met the test of just cause.

Decision 29310 Full Text of Decision 29310

It is conceivable that the nature of a job on a long term basis could affect a person's health and that a person feels the need to change his career towards a position more suited to his moral convictions and his sense of ethics. Moreover, is it necessary that this be done point blank?

Decision 27332 Full Text of Decision 27332

It is difficult not to conclude that claimant's new reliance on the Employment Standards Act to support her desire not to work on Sundays based on her professed religious beliefs arises from a realization that her personal choice to leave to look after her child would not be just cause in law.

Decision 26369 Full Text of Decision 26369

Reasons given by dissenting member adopted by Umpire. Claimant had just cause after one week in a camp for crippled children: the job turned out to be totally unsuitable as the conduct of the program was well outside the bounds of decency and she had no way of influencing events for the better.

Decision 25924 Full Text of Decision 25924

Truck driver employed one year. Felt humiliated: when sitting in the driver's seat, his head completed the body of a woman painted on the driver's door. Canadian Human Rights Act and discrimination on the basis of sex argued. Acted unreasonably. Left without having other employment to go to.

Decision 23670 Full Text of Decision 23670

The Board erred in law. The claimants were under no obligation to attempt to improve their working conditions by involving government authorities prior to quitting, given the fact that the employer operated its business with total disregard to accepted business ethics and government regulation.

Decision 23493 Full Text of Decision 23493

Claimant worked for a lay organization operating on land owned by the Church. He left, after meeting with superiors, because the employer instituted a practice of displaying posters which advocated the use of condoms. His commitment to his convictions does not constitute just cause under s. 28.

Decision 21955 Full Text of Decision 21955

Teacher hired on the understanding that he would not be obligated to teach the tenets of a faith that was not his. He clearly had good cause for leaving if he was being required to teach religion but it is clear from the facts that at the time he left, this was not the cause.

Decision 17461 Full Text of Decision 17461

Waitress in bar quits when asked to wear less decent clothing. Justified in quitting according to Board under Charter. Conclusion absurd as she continued to work 8 hours a week at the same location. Period excluded for 6 weeks.

Decision 16515 Full Text of Decision 16515

Resigns on 3-8 after 14 years to commence Christian school in Texas on 1-9 for discipleship training having felt a call to make this his life's work. Delay in obtaining immigration papers and was unable to take the course. Disqualification reduced from 5 to 2 weeks.

Decision 15871 Full Text of Decision 15871

Claimant left his part-time job at a race track because he could not control his gambling, he was gambling his pay cheques away. The Board found that claimant should have assured of other work. No reason to overturn decision except that disqualificationis reduced to 1 week.

Decision 12568 Full Text of Decision 12568

Accepted by Board that claimant, a driver with a Courrier, was placed in the position of being a party to a breach of the Air Freight Regulations. Tried to rectify the situation by contacting no fewer than 4 people.

Decision 12125 Full Text of Decision 12125

A claimant has a right to object to practices which are contrary to business ethics. An honest belief that this is the case suffices. "Interstating" was illegal according to the claimant, a truck driver.

Decision 11412 Full Text of Decision 11412

S.28 and Charter permit a balancing between freedom of religion and contractual rights. Whether reasonable efforts by both employer and employee to accommodate each other's needs. Leave not discussed prior to hiring. 4-week disqualification proper. Nothing to show it was illegal under Alberta law for employer to refuse leave of absence. It may not be said that employer had imposed an unlawful requirement on claimant which forced his resignation. S.28 not religious in nature. Voluntary even if for reasons of religion.

Decision 10719 Full Text of Decision 10719

Ontario Career in Action Program. Seamstress at $100 a week. Not getting enough experience and training. Some concerns about waste of funds. Purpose of program touched on. Matters of judgment cannot apply rigorously after event. Disqualification reducedto 2 weeks.

Decision 10650 Full Text of Decision 10650

No place in this law of Canada for any rule whereby a claimant who declines to comply with an employer's unethical or semi-crooked instructions is to be stripped of just cause. Even armed forces personnel can be excused for declining to obey an unlawfulcommand.