View cases - Stewart McKelvey

Health Sciences Assoc. of B.C. v. Campbell Riverand North Island Transition Society Page 21employers might have on the parental and other familyobligations of all, some or one of the employees affected bysuch decisions.[39] If the term “family status” is not elusive of definition,the definition lies somewhere between the two extremes urgedby the parties. Whether particular conduct does or does notamount to prima facie discrimination on the basis of family2004 BCCA 260 (CanLII)status will depend on the circumstances of each case. In theusual case where there is no bad faith on the part of theemployer and no governing provision in the applicablecollective agreement or employment contract, it seems to methat a prima facie case of discrimination is made out when achange in a term or condition of employment imposed by anemployer results in a serious interference with a substantialparental or other family duty or obligation of the employee.I think that in the vast majority of situations in which thereis a conflict between a work requirement and a familyobligation it would be difficult to make out a prima faciecase.[40] In the present case, the arbitrator accepted the evidenceof Dr. Lund that Ms. Howard’s son has a major psychiatricdisorder and that her attendance to his needs during afterschoolhours was “an extraordinarily important medical