CHAUDHRI: 20-year employee’s deliberate misconduct leaves him terminated with no pay

The expansion of employee rights has exploded in recent years in Canada.

Companies tangled up in legal cases brought on by former employees have received precious little reprieve from the courts — until now.

Many of my columns have focused on how hard it is for an employer to establish cause for dismissing an employee. The case of Robert Park v. Costco Wholesale Canada Inc. upheld Park’s termination for cause, thus renewing my interest in this thorny area of employment law.

Park started working at Costco in 1995 as a front-end packer. He worked in various positions during his 20-year tenure, including as an assistant buyer in the lawn and garden department in Ottawa.

Park managed inventory employees and also monitored inventory and sales, setting prices and negotiating with vendors. He had security access in several Costco systems and could edit the price and description of products. He earned $74,600 in the role.