Placing an employee on the shelf amounts to psychological harassment

An executive assistant with 40 years’ seniority alleges that she was subjected to psychological harassment. Following the arrival of a new director, the employee experienced several conflict situations with the latter, and she was removed from her functions as a staff manager. She was eventually transferred to another department. According to the Commissioner, the employee was not above reproach and the university exercised its management right by transferring her to another position. However, when she arrived in the other department, she was unofficially set aside with no significant responsibilities. The situation endured and worsened to the point where she was no longer assigned any work. Her imminent retirement was used as an excuse to set her aside and not pay any attention to her. This professional isolation amounts to vexatious behaviour, and the Commissioner ordered the employer to pay $15 000 in moral damages and $15 000 in punitive damages. Rouleau v. Université de Montréal, 2009 QCCRT 0277, DTE 2009T-534 (C.R.T.) Ms. Louise Verdone