$40,000 Awarded For Discrimination Based On Family Responsibilities

On 5 August 2008, the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal found Carpet Call liable for the conduct of its managers for treating an employee unfavourably because the employee sought to take leave at short notice to provide care and support for members of his family.

The employee, who later developed a depressive illness, established that he was treated less favourably than a person would have been who did not have "family responsibilities". For the managers' conduct in directly discriminating against the employee, Carpet Call was jointly and severally liable with the managers for compensation for hurt and humiliation, and economic loss totalling $39,325.

The facts– Bishop v Gedge & Rudd [2008] QADT 17