Credit union's nepotism policy violated Human Rights Code; volunteer committee member is not an employer.
The complainant alleged that the respondent credit union discriminated against him on the basis of family status when it refused to consider his application for a loan officer position.
The respondent relied on a long-standing policy prohibiting the employment of relatives of its board or committee members, arguing that the complainant's father, a member of the Supervisory Committee, was an employer.
The Board of Inquiry found that the father was a volunteer officeholder, not an employer or employee, and therefore the nepotism exception in section 23(d) of the Human Rights Code did not apply.
The Board ordered the respondent to cease its discriminatory policy and awarded the complainant damages for lost wages, travel expenses, and general damages.
Szabo v. Atlas Employees Welland Credit Union, 1987 CanLII 8501
