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ARTICLE · 06 MARCH 2026

104 Absences Later: When Innocent Absenteeism Justifies Termination

Aird & Berlis LLP
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Regular attendance is essential in any workplace, but it is especially critical in operations that rely on scheduled shifts, such as transit services. A recent British Columbia arbitration decision involving Prince George...

CanadaEmployment and HR
Zachary Sippel
Zachary Sippel
Michael Horvat
Michael Horvat
Emily Naveenan
Emily Naveenan
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Regular attendance is essential in any workplace, but it is especially critical in operations that rely on scheduled shifts, such as transit services. A recent British Columbia arbitration decision involving Prince George Transit Ltd. ("PGT") and one of its drivers (the "Grievor") highlights the challenges employers face when dealing with excessive absenteeism and how they should respond in such situations.

Prince George Transit Ltd. v. Teamsters Local Union No. 31, 2025 CanLII 124344, demonstrates that even "innocent" absences arising for legitimate reasons can accumulate to a level that seriously disrupts operations and justify termination where the employee cannot maintain reliable attendance or demonstrate that they are capable of regular attendance.

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