BC movers to pay $65,000 after sexual harassment complaint

A BC moving company that failed to act after an employee complained they were being bullied and sexually harassed has been ordered to pay $65,000 in compensation.

According to an Aug. 8 BC Human Rights Tribunal decision, Ontime Moving knew about the sexual harassment its employee “Joe” was dishing out to Vicki Knowles, but didn’t take any meaningful action to stop it.

Knowles was forced to quit her $50,000 a year job in 2020 after enduring sexual harassment for 15 months.

The decision didn’t give Joe’s last name but said there were numerous incidents where he made sexual innuendos, inappropriately touched Knowles, used derogatory language, and at one point lowered his pants in front of her.

In one incident, when Knowles was kneeling to fix a photocopier, Joe said, “While you’re down there,” insinuating that she should give him oral sex.

He once told her he’d lost weight, and undid his belt, and his pants fell down. In one incident, he smacked her on the butt, and on another occasion, said to Knowles and another colleague, “So, when is one of you ladies going to have sex with me?”

Knowles reported the behaviour to a manager named Taso, who arranged a meeting between the two.

“Joe was on good behaviour for a brief period after his meeting with Taso. However, it didn’t last,” the Tribunal said.

In early 2020, Taso left the Port Coquitlam-based company and was replaced by a manager named Jeff Lee.

“Joe continued to harass and bully Ms. Knowles,” the decision read.

Knowles spoke to Lee about the harassment, and Joe was pulled into his office. She was told Joe wouldn’t “do it anymore.”

“Ms. Knowles was deeply upset at this response, which – in her view – demonstrated that the company was not taking her complaints seriously, and required her to continue working with Joe,” the decision read.

Knowles then handed in her resignation.

“(Lee) indicated that the owner did not want her to tell anyone what had happened, because it could make the company look bad,” the decision read.

After hearing the comment, her “head exploded,” and she left work and called her doctor. She never returned.

In its defence, Ontime Moving argued that Knowles left before it could effectively address her complaint. It also said the company’s ownership had changed in early 2020 and that the new owner did not know about the sexual harassment.

The Tribunal ruled that was irrelevant.

“From Ms. Knowles’ perspective, she continued to work for Ontime in a workplace poisoned by sexual and other harassment,” the Tribunal ruled.

“In any event, when Ms. Knowles did report the issue to Mr. Lee in July, his response was also insufficient. He did not undertake any investigation beyond a brief conversation with Joe. He required Ms. Knowles to continue working alongside Joe, which she had told him she could not do,” the Tribunal ruled.

After Knowles left the company, she filed a complaint with WorkSafeBC and got a threatening text from a colleague named Aaron.

He said that coming “after the company” would “backfire” on her and she was “making a big mistake.”

WorkSafeBC ordered Ontime Moving to investigate the sexual harassment complaints, and the company disciplined and eventually fired Joe.

“However, by this time it was too late for these steps to restore Ms. Knowles to a healthy work environment,” the Tribunal ruled.

The Tribunal said it was unfortunate that the company didn’t act quicker so she could have continued to work there, which is what both parties wanted. 

“As it stands, Ontime’s response to Ms. Knowles’ complaints was not reasonable and continued to expose her to sexual harassment at work, to the point that she felt she had no choice but to leave,” the Tribunal ruled.

Ultimately, the Tribunal ordered the company to pay $29,591 as compensation for lost wages and $35,000 as compensation for injury to her dignity, feelings, and self-respect.