Reprisal is a situation in which an employee is threatened, disciplined or fired for asking about or trying to enforce a legal right in accordance with applicable employment law legislations. An example of reprisal in the workplace could be if an employee refused to perform a task because the work was unsafe and was then punished by the employer.
An employer cannot fire, threaten to fire, suspend or impose any other penalty on the employee for enforcing their rights as set out under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In Ontario, legislation that explicitly prohibits reprisal by an employer includes the Employment Standards Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
If you believe you have been a victim of reprisal and you are looking to obtain legal advice, contact Toronto employment lawyers Sultan Lawyers at 416-214-5111 or via email at mlahert@sultanlawyers.com.