Most people change their jobs multiple times throughout their lives. The reasons that prompt someone to seek a new job vary widely. Sometimes it occurs because a worker chooses this course of action, and leaves a previous job. Other times however it is because their previous employment was terminated. While under some circumstances the termination of a worker’s job may be legal, in other situations, this course of action could be against the law.
Individuals who believe that they have been wrongfully dismissed from their jobs may opt to take legal action. A man, who previously worked as a senior pastor in the Vancouver Chinese Baptist Church, recently did this very thing.
The man, who moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong, was employed as senior pastor for more than two years. His dismissal followed disagreements between the man and two associate pastors. Those problems allegedly had to do with communication and management issues. At the time of his termination he was offered six months pay in lieu of notice. Following his dismissal, the man took legal action.
In court, the man sought 12 to 18 months pay in lieu of notice as well as $30,000 in punitive damages and $30,000 in aggravated damages. The B.C. Supreme Court agreed that the man was entitled to a portion of what he sought, awarding him more than $84,520.
Of that amount, $54,520 was for 12 months of pay in lieu of notice, and $30,000 was for aggravated damages due to the insensitive manner in which his job was terminated. He was not awarded punitive damages.
Cases of this nature can be complicated and the facts surrounding a termination are generally quite important. To help navigate this complex system, a lawyer can generally be of assistance.