Employers often make hiring decisions based on a
multitude of objective and subjective factors. Given that personal
biases often play a conscious or unconscious role in these
decisions, employers face the risk of finding themselves the
subject of a complaint to the British Columbia Human Rights
Tribunal (the "BCHRT") where an applicant speculates that
there has been some form discrimination in the hiring
process.
A recent complaint to the BCHRT highlights to employers the
importance of mitigating the potential impact of biases through
adopting a well thought out and documented hiring process.
Kalyn v. Vancouver Island Health Authority, 2022
BCHRT 41
Facts
The complainant worked for the Vancouver Island Health Authority
for over 30 years and was one of very few women in a male dominated
department. In 2018, the complainant applied for a management
position, which was ultimately awarded to a younger male colleague.
The complainant believed the employer's
