Rights of federally regulated employees related to protection from reprisals

As a federally regulated employee, you are entitled to a recourse mechanism when your employer has retaliated against you for exercising your rights under Part III of the Canada Labour Code (the Code).

The recourse covers several forms of reprisal, including:

• suspensions
• layoffs
• demotions
• financial or other penalties
• refusals to provide training or a promotion, and
• disciplinary actions or threats to take any such actions because you:
  • are pregnant
  • take a leave covered by labour standards (for example, sick leave)
  • are subject to garnishment proceedings
  • have filed a labour standards complaint
  • have testified or are about to testify in a proceeding taken or an inquiry held under the labour standards provisions of the Code
  • inform or assist the Minister or an inspector, or
  • have exercised or tried to exercise your right under the Code. This includes for example, your right to request flexible work arrangements

You may make a complaint in writing to the Canada Industrial Relations Board if you believe that your employer has taken reprisal measures against you.