VANCOUVER — A Vancouver-area man has been awarded almost $16,000 by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal for a series of threats and slurs he endured from his boss' sons.
The tribunal ruled that Kyle Garneau was discriminated against while working at Buy-Rite Foods in Surrey, B.C., were the owner's sons repeatedly physically and verbally harassed him.
Garneau is gay, and has a brain abnormality that affects him physically and mentally, including his appearance and weight.
In a decision released earlier this month, tribunal member Parnesh Sharma wrote that owner Shingara Sumal failed to ensure his store was a safe work environment, free from harassment.
Sharma says the slurs had a profound impact on Garneau and made him feel powerless and less than human.
Garneau wanted $180,000, saying he lost his house and car and had financial difficulties because his hours were greatly reduced. The tribunal instead awarded $15,000 for damages and $936 for lost wages.
