Ontario Casino Fights Discrimination Lawsuit

There are lots of lawsuits out there which make me shake my head in disgust. One of the most recent examples involves the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino in Port Perry, Ontario.

THE CASINO POLICY

The washrooms at the casino have to be cleaned, and the casino had always maintained a policy of having men clean the men’s room and women clean the ladies’ washroom. This seemed to work out well, until Joanne Seguin, a part-time washroom attendant, claimed the policy was discriminatory.

DISCRIMINATION OR NITPICKING?

Seguin was hired in 2002. Working on the weekends, she was making $10.83 an hour. Around the same time, Matthew Welts was hired as a part-time attendant for the men‘s washroom.

In December of 2002, Welts received a full-time position with the housekeeping staff. Part of their responsibility was to clan the washrooms, including the ones where no attendant was present.

Seguin wanted to know why the job opening hadn’t been posted. Welts told her he had been hired because another man had quit. Upon hearing this, Seguin promptly complained to her boss. She later quit the casino in 2003 due to a “breach of trust and conduct.” She then filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

THE HEARING

During a hearing on the matter, officials with the casino admitted that Welts got the job based on his gender. Since the men’s bathroom must be cleaned while customers are present, they wanted to hire a man in accordance with their policy of same-gender washroom cleaning.

The official hearing the case ruled in favor of Seguin, calling the behavior “direct discrimination on the basis of sex.” Seguin was awarded 50 percent of her lost wages (plus interest) and $10,000 for a loss of dignity and self-respect.

The casino appealed to the Ontario Superior Court, but the ruling was upheld. They are now considering one more appeal on the matter.

According to reports, Seguin just wants the matter to be over. The casino, by the way, now has full-time washroom attendants.

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Ontario Casino Fights Discrimination Lawsuit