Complaint concerning a prohibited practice
Workers may file a complaint if they believe they are the victim of sanctions, discriminatory measures or reprisals prohibited by law on the part of their employer.
Recognizing a prohibited practice
A prohibited practice is when a worker is dismissed, suspended, transferred or has any other sanction imposed on them because they:
- exercise a recognized right (for example, a wage claim or the right to vote in a provincial election)
- are absent on sick leave or after having been the victim of a criminal offence or domestic or sexual violence
- refuse to work more than their regular hours to fulfil family obligations
- are absent on maternity leave, paternity leave or parental leave
- speaks only French, has insufficient knowledge of a language other than French, or demands to exercise a right provided for in section 45 of the Charter of the French Language
- made a report concerning psychological harassment committed against another person or collaborated in the handling of a report or complaint concerning such conduct
Jacynthe just found out she is pregnant. She tells her employer the good news and discusses her maternity leave with them. A few days later, she finds out she has been dismissed. Jacynthe could file a complaint concerning a prohibited practice. An employer may not dismiss a worker because she is pregnant.
François has to take time off work because his child's daycare is closed due to a plumbing problem. His employer threatens to dismiss him. If dismissed, François could file a complaint concerning a prohibited practice. An employer may not dismiss a worker who is absent from work to fulfil family or parental obligations.
How the complaints process works
Filing a complaint
Important
To be admissible, the complaint must be filed within 45 days of the day of the dismissal or the sanction. In the case of a worker who is forced to retire or who has a sanction imposed on them after refusing to retire, the time limit is 90 days.
Analysis of the complaint
Once the complaint is filed, the CNESST contacts the person who filed the complaint to verify whether the complaint is admissible. Among other things, it makes sure that:
- the grounds for the complaint are provided for by law
- the person who files a complaint is protected by law
- if the person files a complaint concerning their training period, the CNESST will verify whether they are protected by the Act respecting labour standards (ALS) or the Act to ensure the protection of trainees in the workplace (French only)
- their employer is subject to the ALS or, if applicable, the respondent is subject to the act the person’s recourse is based on
- the person has no other recourses under a collective agreement or other act
- the complaint was filed within the time limit prescribed by law
If the complaint is admissible, the CNESST notifies the person who filed the complaint and checks whether the disagreement can be resolved by communicating with the employer, for example by explaining the standards that apply. If this is not possible, a number of options are provided for to try to resolve the situation.
If the complaint is inadmissible, the CNESST notifies the person who filed the complaint and explains the reasons. If the person disagrees with the decision, they have 30 days to contest it by completing the Application for review of decision form. The CNESST has 30 days to respond.
Mediation
Transfer of the file to the CNESST’s legal affairs department
Important
A complaint concerning a prohibited practice is heard by the Tribunal administratif du travail. If the judge determines that the complaint is founded, they may order the employer to:
- reinstate:
- the worker in their job with all their rights and privileges
- the trainee in their training period with all their rights and privileges
- pay the worker or trainee an indemnity equivalent to the wages and benefits lost as a result of the sanction received
- amend the worker's or trainee's disciplinary record
- put accommodation measures in place to protect a trainee, to limit the impact on their training period or to allow them to successfully complete their training period
- comply with any other measure to safeguard the rights of a trainee
- render any other decision they consider fair and reasonable in the circumstances
In the case of a domestic worker or a babysitter or a care provider, the Tribunal administratif du travail judge may only order the employer to pay them an indemnity for the wages and other benefits they did not receive as a result of their dismissal.
Measures adapted to the particular situations of trainees may be imposed by the Tribunal administratif du travail to remedy the harm that may have been caused to them.
Any employer, educational institution or professional body that contravenes the Act to ensure the protection of trainees in the workplace is liable to a fine.