August 2016

A recent case from the Supreme Court of Queensland (Beven v Brisbane Youth Service Inc [2016] QSC 163) again illustrates the importance of managing risks to psychological health and risks of occupational violence.

The case involves a sexual assault perpetrated by a client of the Brisbane Youth Service Inc. (BYS) on one of its employee case workers.  The client had a history of drug use (which was continuing), sexualised behaviours towards a number of the workers with whom she came into contact (both at BYS and other organisations) and had made two previous staff members of BYS feel unsafe when working with her (to the extent that they ceased working with her or working with her at her home alone).

Alcoholism and drug addiction have been recognized as diseases pursuant to the definition of a “handicap” established within the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.  Therefore, an employee suffering from limitations related to his or her addiction is afforded protection against discrimination guaranteed by the Quebec Charter in Article 10.

What does it…

The employment contract of a “Montreal Impact Academy’s U14” team coach was recently terminated as he made racist comments on his private Facebook page following the defeat of France against Portugal in the Euro 2016 final. In a news release, the Montreal Impact shortly dissociated itself from these comments, considering that they were totally unacceptable…