Discrimination - Based on Aging:

Question: Can a youth appearance requirement at work be defended as a reasonable and bona fide age qualification under Ontario’s Human Rights Code?

Answer: A paralegal can help you assess whether a “youth” or age-based appearance requirement at work is likely protected under the limited Human Rights Code exception for reasonable and bona fide qualifications, and how cases like Ouwroulis v. New Locomotion, 2009 HRTO 1498 may affect the analysis even though it was dismissed as abandoned before a decision.   In Ontario, employment decisions must generally avoid discrimination based on age under Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, including section 5(1), but discrimination may be permitted where it is for reasons of age and the employer shows it is a reasonable and bona fide qualification because of the nature of the employment under Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, section 24(1)(b).   For practical next steps and to review your situation, Case in Point Paralegal Services can help you understand your options and the evidence to gather, call (519) 318-7843.

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Youthfulness Within Employment

The Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19 provides a variety of protections from discrimination; however, in some situations, being where the discrimination is based upon a characteristic that is a genuine requirement of the employment, there is a limited exception that allows the discrimination despite the discrimination being based upon a reason usually protected by the Human Rights Code.

The Law

An interesting case, unfortunately dismissed as abandoned prior to a decision by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, thus the answer to the legal issue remains undecided, involved the termination from employment of a female exotic dancer who was deemed too old and was lacking the appearance of youth.

Discrimination from employment based on age, among other characteristics, is protected per the Human Rights Code; which specifically states:

In the Ouwroulis v. New Locomotion, 2009 HRTO 1498 case, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario was preparing to answer the question as to whether age as a factor in diminishing sex appeal was a sufficient reason for discrimination based on age.  In this case, Ms. Ouwroulis was capable of doing the job duties without impairment by age, but was told that, "they were going in a new direction with younger girls" thus the age factor of concern related solely to appearance of youth.

Many within legal circles remain intrigued to know how this case would be decided if followed through rather than abandoned prior to a decision whereas such a decision would consider, and be based upon review of, the exception found at section 24(1)(b) of the Human Rights Code which permits age discrimination in some circumstances.  Specifically, the exception states:

Conclusion

Considering how individually objective sex appeal is, it would be quite interesting to know if the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario would have deemed age with appearance of youth as a bona fide qualification due to the nature of the employment.