Third CBC manager sues for wrongful dismissal
• The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. fired a senior human resources manager who was in psychological crisis brought about by the “toxic work environment” at the national broadcaster, according to her lawsuit for wrongful dismissal.
Days before she was dismissed last month, allegedly without cause or reasonable notice, Julia Evans, 37, was “experiencing severe bouts of stress, anxiety and depression as a direct result of a toxic work environment engendered by (the CBC).”
Five days after her termination, her doctor said she was “unfit to work” and “instructed her to remain off work as a result of her illness,” according to her statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court. She “remains under constant medical care.”
The lawsuit is the third major legal action for wrongful dismissal in the fallout from the Jian Ghomeshi affair and the independent inquiry into bullying and harassment at the CBC.
The first was by Todd Spencer, former executive director of human resources and industrial relations, who was fired the day after the report by Janice Rubin on the broadcaster’s workplace culture was released, along with Chris Boyce, then head of radio, who oversaw Ghomeshi’s show.
In his lawsuit filed this year, Spencer claims he was publicly shamed and politically scapegoated for the mess, and demands more than $700,000 for wrongful dismissal.
Jim Kozak, a former senior marketing director, is also suing for wrongful dismissal, claiming he was intimidated and harassed for two years by another top manager, until he was dismissed in April.
“CBC’s failure to properly implement the recommendations from the Rubin report (into the Ghomeshi debacle and how it was handled), and eliminate bullying and harassment in the workplace, represents an organizational failure and constitutes a known harm to all of its employees,” he says in his statement of claim.
Evans’ lawsuit does not specify why she was fired, but refers to “unfounded and spurious allegations of cause,” which caused her to “experience extreme stress, anxiety and depression.”
It alleges the CBC treated her “in a malicious, highhanded, arrogant and contemptuous manner,” and claims $110,000 in lieu of a year’s notice, plus damages for lost benefits and pension contributions.
It also asks for $100,000 in aggravated damages, in part because the CBC failed to “maintain a workplace free of harassment.”
Evans had worked for the broadcaster for two years. She joined the human resources department in June 2014, just as two journalists reported Ghomeshi to their employer. She does not mention Ghomeshi in her statement of claim.
CBC has not yet filed a defence.
“Ms. Evans was let go for cause and we stand by that decision; we will defend our position accordingly through the appropriate channels,” said spokesman Chuck Thompson.
Evans had responsibilities at all levels of management, including consulting on “talent and performance management” and workplace investigations.
She also headed the local workplace grievance committee and sat on committees for diversity and inclusion and employment equity.
In Kozak’s lawsuit, he claims that in February 2015 he complained to Evans and her then-boss, Serena Thadani Anthony, CBC’s interim executive director of people and culture, that he had been repeatedly harassed by Jean Mongeau, general manager and chief revenue officer for media solutions.
Kozak alleges he asked for help in dealing with Mongeau’s behaviour, which included bullying, harassment and reprisal for complaining.
He claims the human resources representatives told him “in no uncertain terms” that Mongeau was known throughout the CBC for “inappropriate behaviour.”
The lawyer for Evans declined to comment.