No Integrity – No More Job

Two recent decisions by arbitration boards demonstrate the importance of integrity in the employment relationship. The dismissals of employees with over twenty years of service were upheld due to the breach of trust arising from the seriousness of the underlying offences and subsequent dishonesty in the course of the investigation.  

Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan v Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, 2014 CanLII 9578 (SKLA) involved a physical therapist with 25 years of clean service who was dismissed for significant breaches of confidentiality. The Employer had in place a number of significant policies governing confidentiality and access to personal health information including access to health records contained in a province-wide digital database. The grievor at first claimed she had not read the applicable policies, but under cross-examination she admitted having read at least the one she had previously signed an acknowledgment that