Christian Employee Suspended for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Eligible for $5K, Labour Board Rules
The federal labour board has awarded $5,000 to a Christian employee placed on unpaid leave after being denied a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine policy. Michelle Tati, a passport clerk with Employment and Social Development Canada, was on unpaid leave from Feb. 16, 2022, to June 20, 2022, after the department rejected her request […]
TL;DR
- A federal labour board awarded $5,000 to Christian employee Michelle Tati.
- Tati was placed on unpaid leave from Feb. 16, 2022, to June 20, 2022.
- Her employer, Employment and Social Development Canada, denied her request for a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine policy.
- The department stated Tati had not established that her religious beliefs prevented vaccination.
- Tati argued the denial violated her collective agreement and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
- The department contended her objections were based on personal conscience and secular concerns, not religion.