Secretly Recording Calls: Is It A Risk Worth Taking?

Recently, a 10-minute TikTok video about a termination meeting went viral online. A woman secretly recorded a meeting during which she was fired from her job and then shared that recording on the Internet. In the video, she could be seen calmly defending herself, but she could not change the employer's decision. She submitted her recording to the court of public opinion, and the public sided with her, applauding her demeanour during the meeting. Even the CEO of her employer admitted that the situation could have been handled better. However, what impact can a secret recording have for employees in a court of law?

Most people in Canada know it is generally not illegal to record a conversation if you are taking part in it. But – do secret recordings at work put you at risk of an employer relying on them to terminate for cause? Not surprisingly, the answer depends on the circumstances.