I'm in Ottawa, ON and my religious exemption was denied by my company. While I work remotely and there's no return to work until at least mid-2022, I want to prepare legally. Which legal firms in Ottawa can I contact that handle this specific situation? I just wanted to have that first conversation with a legal expert informing them of my situation to weight my options.
Right now I can't enter the building on site, but if I needed something from the office to take home, it can be picked up at the curb (this is how many have to do it right now, since their cubicle no longer has their computer workstation, being it's at home). So I CAN work and do my job. I'd rather continue working from home permanently if that remains an option beyond mid-2022.
That said, there might be a future situation where somehow my presence on-site would be required. Some equipment cannot leave the building because it's too big, but I've not had that problem yet in years. Another thought is if this might impact my ability to get a security clearance renewed when it expires (e.g. having to go in on-site for fingerprints, etc) - not sure.
The on-site all-the-time-at-the-office model looks be being done away with. A recent big meeting had a higher up mention more collaborative spaces like other companies have adopted. They don't know the future, and whatever they do they don't want to be temporary - so a mixed model would seem to be a thing for sure.
So I don't sense I'm in any immediate trouble.
But I'd like to know what my REALISTIC and TIMELY options are LEGALLY with a lawyer.
It basically comes down to this: risking my health or starving. The former seems to be the lesser of two evils.
So who can I call? Website? Number? Something specific to Ottawa, where I can call - introduce myself and getting a better sense of things.
I'm not willing to shell out legal costs just yet.
Should the day come where I'm definitely look to lose my job, I will make that next step.
Even then, and even if I were to win and be accommodated - how LONG would that take? How MUCH would that costs me?
It's not an easy decision, and I don't want to unnecessarily lose my career prematurely.
I reached out in email/forms to https://rumble.com/c/c-832723 (Don't Talk TV - Nicolas) as well as another Ontario firm with employment lawyers which I found has someone(s) in Ottawa at https://stlawyers.ca/ottawa-employment-lawyers/
Awaiting their response.
One lawyers reply:
My comments: Please note I'm in the PRIVATE sector and NOT in a union. I am, and continue to work remotely since it's high tech. There's no need for me to be in the office, and anything I need from the office can be carted down the front door. Fine by me. There's also no return to work until next summer at the soonest. Even whenever that happens the configuration at work is going to be more flexible with not everyone in the office - so remote learning and part time coming into the office is a permanent thing. So in my situation it seems like I might be able to stay where I am.
**Wow, I had to do a double-take right there, because I hadn't yet posted the text of their email to me! But what you quoted makes it look like what they sent me was almost a cut-n-paste ("personal preferences and singular beliefs" not tantamount to a "creed"). **
I haven't had any contact with anyone from their legal side of things. I heard from someone in HR, that was it. My concern when I contacted them, was what was going to happen to me after the deadline (now past) where I had to have my paperwork in. I got mine in (exemption) earlier, and well on time. I was getting nervous because after a couple follows ups no one was getting back to me.
The delay on their end was they were dealing with a lot of folks who actually needed to work full time in the building. Not my case. I work from home. I rarely need to make any in-person contact with anyone, and if I do we can do it on video chat. The only thing I needed from the building, is occasionally a piece of small hardware. This is a very rare thing for me.
Recently, when I raised this concern, my supervisor told me just get have someone at the office bring it down to me (curb-side) which is perfect for me. I honestly have no interest in entering the building, nor being stuck in a cubicle ever again. I love working from home. So based on this recent recommendation, I don't forsee any immediate danger for myself.
All I'm doing now is just educating myself by asking around (like I did with that lawyer) so I'm not coming in cold on this, SHOULD ever, the need arise next summer of 2022. That's the SOONEST we'd be called back into the building. Even then, they've made clear that the old cubicle 7 day a week thing for everyone isn't coming back. They are coming up with a mixed solution which includes working remotely (e.g. for the next plandemic). So the option to work remotely, in my opinion, should remain a permanent option for me. Curb side pickups for equipment shouldn't be a big deal, even on a regular basis. etc.
Hopefully by next summer a LOT more will have developed in the public and corporate knowledge of:
Perhaps by that time my company will have eased up on their restrictions. We'll have to see. Even if I'm allowed in the building again, I don't think I will unless I absolutely have to. Not until this China Flu has passed completely into the rear view.
I really feel sorry for those who have to be in the building and are public facing in my company or other places of employment. I'm so glad I went the Computer Science route.
Not certain how this ends, but I can say that working remotely has at the very least bought me more time.
Even in the worst case scenario, if I end up choosing the jab as the lesser of two evils (e.g. starving, losing my home, etc) - at least I'll be coming into the jab game much later. By that time treatments in response to adverse reactions will have been better understood, and available. A lot more people will have the poison flowing longer in their veins and hopefully suing the heck out of the government and offenders in courts.
In my family on both sides I haven't heard anything negative healthwise in the young, nor the elderly - so genetically based on that - should it continue to go well for them - I'd probably be fine. I'd rather not take that chance, if I can avoid it.
Procrastinating as long as I can, whilst trying not to appear a troublemaker. Not my intent. I just want to work and be left alone. That's all I ask.