ICBC employee who called in sick, fired after caught on Instagram vacationing in Penticton | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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ICBC employee who called in sick, fired after caught on Instagram vacationing in Penticton

FILE PHOTO - A woman fired by ICBC for calling in sick while on a long weekend vacation at Penticton's Lakeside Resort has lost her union-back grievance to the Labour Relations Board.

A woman who was fired from ICBC for not being honest about taking a vacation day in Penticton unsuccessfully grieved her firing at Labour Relations Board hearing.

Rhianna Mundy was a part-time customer service adjuster working for ICBC in Surrey when she took a sick day on the August long weekend in 2020 for a vacation in Penticton.

Prior to the incident, she had a clear disciplinary record with the ICBC. She was working remotely due to COVID-19 when she tried to book a vacation day off for the long weekend vacation but was not allowed to do so.

When supervisors were alerted to the sick day being taken, flags were raised because the day had previously been rejected as a vacation day.

An investigation revealed an Instagram post showed Mundy celebrating at Penticton’s Lakeside Resort on Saturday, Aug. 1, the day in question. Mundy claimed she intended to work remotely at the resort that day, but had a migraine and called in sick.

She was fired due to a lack of trust. ICBC claimed the employment relationship had been irreparably damaged in spite of her otherwise good employment record.

In grieving the termination, the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union argued no just cause, or as an alternative, that the dismissal was excessive and a lesser penalty applied.

Labour Relations Board arbitrator Arne Peltz concluded in a ruling on April 7, 2021, the central issue in the case was why Mundy was unable to attend work on Aug. 1, noting she called in sick but was actually on a holiday with her husband, allegations made by ICBC and not disputed by the union.

The arbitrator also found Mundy's testimony not to be credible when analyzed, concluding she hid the Penticton trip to her employer and only came clean when confronted by management who were already aware of it.

Peltz found it “reasonably probable the grievor was not intending to work on Saturday.”

“Based on all the foregoing, I find against the grievor on credibility. I disbelieve her testimony,” Peltz said in the decision, calling Mundy’s actions sick leave abuse and fraud on her employer.

Peltz also ruled against the union’s contention of excessive discipline, calling the offence dishonesty and fraud, as well as noting Mundy’s lack of apology, acknowledgement or remorse.


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News from © iNFOnews, 2021
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