Banned from Public Pool for Requesting a Hot Female Trainer

This report is inspired by an article written by Jeffrey Grubb & Amy Groothuis, of Miller Thompson LLP. The Importance Of Workplace Safety

An individual was banned from a public pool for specifically requesting a hot female trainer in an email to the staff.

The banned individual subsequently filed a human rights complaint against the public pool, alleging a medical condition that contributed to this behaviour.

The BC Human Rights Tribunal dismissed the application on the basis of:

• no medical evidence was presented, together, 
• a lack of any known or readily observable behaviour that would create the “duty to inquire” into whether or not the individual had a medical condition or disability that influenced his actions.

The tribunal also stated that as the request was provided for in an email, the complainant’s email does not reflect an uncontrollable comment or blurt but rather a reflection of intentional and contemplative thought.

The conclusion of this human rights application is obvious, but the reasons may appear nuanced to some. Duty to inquire and duty to accommodate can be tricky for employers and corporations otherwise obliged to human rights acts, particularly in BC. It is worth a risk assessment or policy and/or work rule audit before engaging in BC work.