top of page
  • a149244b-47f2-460d-9046-3896e0ca07e6

Frustration of Employment Contracts During Pandemic

In Verigen v Ensemble Travel Ltd., the Court considered whether an employer could rely on the COVID-19 pandemic as justification for terminating an employee based on the doctrine of "frustration".


The Plaintiff in Verigen worked in the travel industry. Her employment was terminated by her employer shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her employer argued that the employment contract was frustrated - in other words, that the performance of the Plaintiff's employment activities were rendered impossible by the pandemic.


The Court rejected the employees arguments. It found that while much of the demand driving the business had been depleted, not all of the business had been depleted and it was not going to be permanent. Additionally, the employer had preserved several other employment positions and a recently-opened vacancy had been filled. The Court found that the termination was with a view of simply cutting operating costs to help weather the pandemic.


The Plaintiff, who had commenced her employment in 2019, was awarded damages reflecting a five-month notice period.


 


Travis Sippel is one of the leading employment lawyers on Vancouver Island. He works with both employees and employers on a variety of employment matters, including employment contracts, workplace policies and procedures, wrongful terminations, constructive dismissal claims, workplace investigations and human rights complaints.


Travis Sippel can be contacted by phone at 1-250-824-2423 or via email at travis@bradburysippel.com.

35 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page