Case study: Chapter 2- The Environment- Labour Relations textbook

Armand, Bob, and Courtney worked as customer service representatives at a company that managed a toll road. Employees at the company are represented by a union. All three employees worked at the front counter, and their duties included issuing transponders, receiving payments, receiving faxes to provide service to customers, and assisting in the companys call center when call volumes were high. In order to do their jobs, the customer service representatives on the front counter were required to go to a fax machine in another area of the building and also to escort customers to other areas of the complex several times a day. Security was a concern at the company because of expensive equipment on the premises, client information that was held, and possible hostile customers. The company had a security system in place that required employees to use a swipe card and enter a password to gain entry at various points in the building. The company encountered problems with the misuse and loss of swipe cards. The employer proposed a new biometric scanning system that relied upon the measurement of the right hand when it was placed on a screenArmand, Bob, and Courtney worked as customer service representatives at a company that managed a toll road. Employees at the company are represented by a union. All three employees worked at the front counter, and their duties included issuing transponders, receiving payments, receiving faxes to provide service to customers, and assisting in the companys call center when call volumes were high. In order to do their jobs, the customer service representatives on the front counter were required to go to a fax machine in another area of the building and also to escort customers to other areas of the complex several times a day. Security was a concern at the company because of expensive equipment on the premises, client information that was held, and possible hostile customers. The company had a security system in place that required employees to use a swipe card and enter a password to gain entry at various points in the building. The company encountered problems with the misuse and loss of swipe cards. The employer proposed a new biometric scanning system that relied upon the measurement of the right hand when it was placed on a screen.

The system would also work with employees swiping a card and entering a password instead of a hand measurement; however, the employer wanted to incorporate the hand scanning as part of the system to facilitate its attendance management program. Scanning devices would be placed at numerous locations in the complex to control and monitor access to various departments. Eight employees who were members of the Pentecostal faith objected to the proposed scanning system because of their religious beliefs. Although the Pentecostal church is not specifically opposed to biometric scanning, the employees felt that the system was counter to their religious beliefs because it would impose the mark of the beast upon them as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. The religious objection related to using measurements of portions of the body for the purposes of identification where such measurements have a number associated with them, the number becomes part of a system of numbers, and that system is involved in the ability to earn a living. The concerns are heightened for some individuals when the measurements are derived from the right hand. When the employees objected to the new system, the employer proposed that they use their left hands and also proposed the employees be allowed to wear a glove over their hand. (The system relied upon a hand measurement, not fingerprints.) Five employees were satisfied with the changes proposed by the employer and dropped their objection to the scanning devices. When Armand, Bob, and Courtney continued to refuse to use the new system, the employer proceeded to apply its progressive discipline policy. The employer did not meet with the union or the employees other than through the disciplinary process. The employees were given warnings, formal letters, and subsequently terminated when they refused to take part in the new system.

Questions:

1. Is there any discrimination in this situation? If so, what type of discrimination is involved?

2. What is the obligation of the employer?

3. If this case proceeded to a hearing, explain the outcome you expect.