Women fired while on maternity leave want better legal protection
Most people believe the law protects them and their jobs while on maternity leave. But it seems that's not always how things turn out.
In Sept. 2015, Gilary Massa gave birth to her first child. Three months into her maternity leave, her Toronto employer informed her she no longer had a job.
Massa says she was shocked. "It came out of nowhere. It's my lifeline."
The reason given by her employer was the job was eliminated due to restructuring.
Beyond the emotional shock, Massa says it was a big financial hit and adds that their family can not afford to live on a single income.
The controversy over Massa losing her position while on maternity leave coincides with a government review in Ontario looking at how the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Act could be updated to better protect workers.
Guests in this segment:
- Gilary Massa lost her job at the Ryerson Student's Union three months into her maternity leave. She has filed a human rights complaint.
- Fred Hahn, Ontario President of CUPE, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, of which Gilary Massa is a member.
- David Whitten, an employment lawyer with Whitten & Lublin. He's represented both employers and employees in disputes.
The Current requested an interview with Gilary Massa's employer, the Ryerson Students' Union, but haven't heard back. We also reached out to Ryerson University.
In a statement, it points out that: "It is important to note that the RSU is a separate, independent corporation with its own bylaws and governance; Ryerson University respects their independence."
Did your pregnancy or maternity leave jeopardize your job? If you're an employer, what kind of challenges have you faced?
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This segment was produced by The Current's Pacinthe Mattar and Sujata Berry.