Dismissed CBC director files harassment lawsuit

Allegedly bullied ex-employee is seeking more than $1M in damages from broadcaster

A former senior director at the CBC has launched a lawsuit against the broadcaster alleging that he was harassed by one of his bosses for two years before he was dismissed from the organization.

Christopher (Jim) Kozak alleges that Jean Mongeau, CBC’s general manager and chief revenue officer for media solutions, harassed, intimidated and bullied him from late 2014 until his April 2016 dismissal.

In a statement of claim filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Kozak says the behaviour involved “speaking in a condescending manner” towards him, “unnecessary pressure tactics around work assignments,” and “unjustly challenging and ‘grilling’ Kozak at one-on-one meetings and deliberately putting him on the defensive.”

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

“We vigorously deny the allegations that have been made in the statement of claim,” said CBC spokeswoman Emma Bedard in an email.

“We will be filing our statement of defence in the coming days.”

Kozak began working at the CBC in October 2012 as director of sales for the network’s Olympics and sports partnerships. He was later promoted to senior director of marketing.

He is seeking $350,000 in damages for wrongful dismissal, $500,000 in aggravated or moral damages, and $250,000 in punitive damages.

The filing alleges the CBC has failed to implement instructions of the Rubin Report, an independent workplace study by lawyer Janice Rubin.

Rubin was retained by the CBC to investigate how management responded to allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour involving former radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

The statement of claim alleges the broadcaster only pays “lip service” to the recommendations.