HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-2008.Holder.07-03-29 DecisionCrown Employees
Grievance Settlement
Board
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Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8
Tel. (416) 326-1388
Fax (416) 326-1396
Commission de
règlement des griefs
des employés de la
Couronne
Bureau 600
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Toronto (Ontario) M5G 1Z8
Tél. : (416) 326-1388
Téléc. : (416) 326-1396
GSB# 2005-2008
UNION# 05-09
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
Under
THE CROWN EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACT
Before
THE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT BOARD
BETWEEN
Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 1750
(Holder) Union
- and -
The Crown in Right of Ontario
(Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) Employer
BEFORE Ken Petryshen Vice-Chair
FOR THE UNION Ian Thompson
Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Local 1750
FOR THE EMPLOYER Gurgit Brar
Counsel
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
HEARING October 10, 2006; January 15, 2007.
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Decision
In a grievance dated January 14, 2005, Mr. G. Holder claims that the Employer
contravened the Collective Agreement when it determined that he did not meet the established
minimum requirements for the posted position of Workwell Evaluator. The Union takes the
position that Mr. Holder did meet the minimum requirements as set out in the posting and that
the hiring party based his decision during the screening process on standards that were higher
than those set out in the posting. The Employer takes the position that Mr. D. Easson, who at the
time was the Assistant Director Safe Workplace Incentives and the hiring party for this
competition, made a reasonable assessment of Mr. Holder’s qualifications as disclosed in his
application and correctly determined that Mr. Holder did not meet the minimum requirements for
the position. The Union requests that I direct the Employer to rerun the competition for Mr.
Holder. If Mr. Holder is successful after the interview and work sample stage of the process, the
Union requests that I direct the Employer to place Mr. Holder in the Workwell Evaluator
position and to compensate him for his losses. There was no challenge to my jurisdiction to hear
and determine this grievance.
The Workwell Program (“Workwell”) is an incentive program that operates within the
Employer’s Prevention Division. Workwell is designed to improve health and safety in Ontario
workplaces by levying additional premiums against firms who have a substandard health and
safety record. As the title suggests, a Workwell Evaluator performs an evaluation of the
occupational health and safety program of selected firms. As part of a comprehensive
evaluation, the Workwell Evaluator will meet with the owner, senior management and a worker
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representative and will complete a Core Health and Safety Audit document. He or she will
observe the firm’s practices and procedures, tour the workplace and conduct random interviews
with workers on-site. A report is prepared which indicates the firm’s overall score and identifies
areas needing improvement. A firm requires a score of at least seventy-five percent to pass the
evaluation. Firms which do not achieve a passing score have six months to improve and are re-
evaluated. If the firm does not achieve a passing score of seventy-five percent when re-
evaluated, an additional premium charge is applied, ranging from ten to seventy-five percent of
the firm’s base annual premium, depending on the extent and the nature of the health and safety
shortfalls. The surcharge could be as high as $500,000.00. Eighty percent of firms fail the first
evaluation and the same percentage of firms pass the re-evaluation by improving their health and
safety programs.
Following a decision to expand Workwell, the Employer posted for ten Workwell
Evaluator positions on November 26, 2004. Among other items, the posting sets out a job
summary, the responsibilities of the position and contains a section dealing with minimum
requirements. The job summary and listed responsibilities in the posting are as follows:
Job Summary:
Create and manage a provincial industry cross-sector caseload of high-risk employers
requiring health, safety and risk management intervention to achieve the WSIB Corporate
Mandate and Vision to eliminate all workplace injuries/illnesses and have Ontario
workplaces recognized as the safest in the
world.
Provide professional health, safety and risk management program auditing, consultation
and/or training services for employers to identify opportunities, introduce new
management concepts, and advocate the importance of developing or improving their
health, safety and risk management systems. This will generate healthier and safer
workplaces and the elimination or reduction of workplace injury/illness.
Provide professional health and safety training and consultative services and/or act as a
resource to provide expert matter advice and guidance to Health and Safety Association
Consultants, Ministry of Labour Inspectors, Industry Consultants, Workplace Health and
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Safety Representatives and to other WSIB staff to increase their knowledge and
effectiveness.
Lead and/or act on behalf of Branch management on internal and external project teams
by providing and contributing a professional level of health and safety expertise to ensure
the outcomes help achieve the WSIB Corporate mandate of eliminating all Ontario
workplace injuries/illnesses.
Responsibilities:
Own and manage a caseload of 125 employer accounts from various area sectors
province-wide.
Conduct on site health and safety audits at a high-risk employers’ premises to assess their
health and safety programs.
Review a firm’s trend analysis to determine if the hazard/risk assessment tool was used
correctly and if the hazard risk assessment is complete.
Provide professional health and safety consultative services and/or act as a resource to
provide expert advice, guidance and solutions to other professional health and safety
providers such as HAS Consultants, MOL inspectors, industry consultants, employers
and/or their representatives and WSIB Prevention Division management.
Recommend, plan, design, deliver and evaluate training and educational programs for
Workwell firms and their representatives, internal WSIB staff as well as “train-the-
trainer” for health and safety consultants, MOL inspectors and employers.
Lead and/or act on behalf of branch management on project teams by providing and
contributing a professional level of health and safety expertise in planning, designing,
setting, monitoring and adjusting goals, objectives and timeframes as
required to ensure achievement of corporate prevention strategic goals.
Identify and select firms for health, safety and risk management intervention by
establishing a selection criteria, identifying priorities, considering impact,
reviewing Experience Rating profiles and investigating MOL files.
Participate in the development and improvement of workplace evaluation audit tools,
processes, and incentive programs.
Liaise with SWA’s, MOL and other WSIB areas to keep abreast of legislative
requirements, exchange information on health and safety program developments, forge
stronger partnerships, maintain cooperation between the various programs and provide
seamless service to our mutual customers.
Lead or assist in the development and/or recommendation of operational standards,
procedures and/or guidelines of which WSIB decisions are rendered, and hence are
subject to objection and/or appeal (Workwell Audit Template Guidelines).
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There are ten job requirements set out in the minimum requirements section of the
posting. Since Mr. Easson determined that Mr. Holder did not meet the minimum levels for
Health & Safety and Program Evaluation, I will only reproduce the references in the posting to
these items, which appear as follows:
Minimum Requirements:
In order to screen into this job competition, applicants must meet the following minimum levels
set for this position.
Job requirements Level Description
Health & Safety 6 Knowledge of FUNDAMENTAL principles and theories
in a discipline or subject are sufficient for practical
application to varied situations.
FUNDAMENTAL: Rudimentary, practical application of
specific knowledge.
…
Program Evaluation 6 Knowledge of FUNDAMENTAL principles and theories in
a discipline or subject are sufficient for practical
application to varied situations.
FUNDAMENTAL: Rudimentary, practical application of
specific knowledge.
Beside the description of Program Evaluation, the posting contains the following
example:
Measure h&s programs against known standards through audit. Use of
evaluation/auditing techniques (doc. reviews, interviews, observations
and analysis/assessment).
The posting informed potential applicants that a job description was available from the
Lotus Notes Job Posting System. It also advised that those who did not meet all of the minimum
requirements to submit a current resume.
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Mr. Holder applied for the position by filing an application and submitting a resume. Mr.
Holder’s current position identifies his present levels in various categories and there is no dispute
that he was not rated at a level 6 for Health & Safety and for Program Management. In order to
meet the minimum requirement in these areas he was required to establish that he had
appropriate work experience or education. On his application form, Mr. Holder provided the
following information relating to how he met the requirements for Health & Safety and Program
Evaluation:
Health & Safety – Level 6 Education: Certificates in Occupational
Health & Safety Awareness
WHMIS
Basic Health & Safety
Practical Application:
Investigations – 15 years – Conduct on site
claims investigations usually involving
inspection of work-site. Inspection to
determine cause of injury. H&S
evaluation and education is common
during workplace visits.
Union Exposure – Joint Disability
Management Committee
Program Evaluation – Level 6 26 years WSIB experience dealing with
the review, analysis, and practical
application of evidence associated with
WSI legislation, policies and procedures in
rendering and supporting decisions.
My attached resume provides clear
examples and practical employment
exposure to evaluation/auditing, document
review and analysis/assessment, policy
and procedure interpretation and impact
assessment.
Union representative actively involved in
committees such as:
Traumatic Mental Stress Pilot Program and
the standing and working Committee lead
for the application and evaluation of the
Appeals Automated Scheduling Project.
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(see Resume for complete information)
Mr. Holder has a seniority date of March 20, 1978. His resume refers to the positions he
has held with the Employer, an overview of his skills and experience, his accomplishments and
his educational background. He elaborated on these matters during his testimony.
Mr. Holder started and worked for five years as a Claims Adjudicator. In this position,
he made decisions on entitlement for workers claiming a work related injury. In this role, he
assessed the nature and cause of workplace accidents which may have occurred due violations of
the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OH&SA”), such as when machines were unguarded or
protective clothing was not worn. He also made assessments as to whether a worker could return
to work, given his or her medical restrictions and the kind of work that was available. Between
1983 and 1986, he was a Policy Development Specialist, Decision Review Branch/Appeals,
engaged in research and development of policy and procedures, including the interpretation of
legislative changes to the WSIA. This position also involved interpreting and recording new
policies in manuals. Commencing in 1986, Mr. Holder was a Claims Training Instructor,
Operations, involved in the training of new and existing staff about claims adjudication. He
worked on a team with two other employees to research topics and to create training materials.
From 1987 until the date of the competition in 2004, he was an Investigator, Operations &
Special Investigations Branch. In this position, he investigated claims and then provided a
written report of the facts to an Adjudicator or Appeals Officer who would make decisions on the
claim. In this role, he would visit work sites, interview employees and witnesses, and review
documents for the primary purpose of determining whether a worker’s injury arose out of
employment. While at a work location Mr. Holder would bring any health and safety issue he
noticed to the attention of the firm. He testified that part of the job of an Investigator is to
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promote workplace safety. His accomplishments as an Investigator included the reorganization
of what was then called the “Fraud Unit” and successful prosecutions under the Criminal Code
following internal and external investigations. For a period of about a year between 1992 and
1993, Mr. Holder was a Manager, Operations, where he managed a team of approximately seven
Claims Adjudicators. In this excluded position, he performed labour relations functions and he
was involved in ensuring compliance with the OH&SA.
In addition to his jobs with the Employer, Mr. Holder was the Union Chair of an
Organizational and Change Committee for 2001 to 2002. His role on this committee was to
ensure that changes in the organization were considered carefully to avoid job losses. Mr.
Holder testified that he was on the Joint Disability Management Committee for a while and a
unit coordinator on his floor and that both tasks included a health and safety component.
Article 5 of the Collective Agreement deals with recruitment, selection, reassignment and
transfers. The article commences with the following statement of intent:
Statement of Intent
To support the WSIB’s principle of recruitment from within, and in recognition of
the value to the organization of its employees, the parties agree to recognize knowledge,
skills and abilities obtained through employment at the WSIB, and will promote internal
development of skills essential to the success of the business.
Article 5.02 contains the following screening provision:
Assessment of Applications
After the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed to determine whether the
applicant has met the established minimum requirements. This will include a systemic
review of each applicant’s knowledge, skills and experience gained through WSIB
employment.
The results of the assessment will be communicated to each applicant prior to the
beginning of the selection process.
9
Applicants who met the established minimum requirements were eligible for the selection
process and placed on a list of preliminary candidates. In the selection process, they were scored
on two selection tools. They wrote a three-hour work sample to gauge their health and safety
knowledge. They also participated in a formal interview before a panel. The work sample and
the interview each counted for fifty per cent of the final score. Those applicants who met the
threshold of seventy-five per cent were identified as qualified for the Workwell Evaluator
position. Bargaining unit applicants who met the threshold were selected based on seniority.
Internal applicants were considered before external applicants.
Mr. Easson received about sixty applications and he assessed them in light of the same
criteria during the screening process. For internal applicants who were not at level 6 in Health &
Safety, Mr. Easson looked for either the completion of a post secondary program in health and
safety or relevant health and safety experience. A certificate from the Ryerson University health
and safety program would satisfy the minimum requirement. As far as work experience was
concerned, Mr. Easson looked at whether an applicant had a direct involvement in a health and
safety program. He focused on their role and decision making authority in a program. He was
interested in whether an individual developed a health and safety program, was responsible for
the maintenance of such a program or had experience in auditing programs to ensure that
appropriate standards were in place. Mr. Easson indicated that some of the external applicants
who met the minimum requirement in this category had at least five years of this kind of work
experience. He testified that a broad level of health and safety knowledge was required for the
Workwell Evaluator position. There is no training program for the position and the successful
applicants were expected “to hit the ground running”.
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To demonstrate the minimum level for Program Evaluation, applicants had to have
experience in measuring, using auditing techniques, health and safety programs against known
standards, either legislative or best practice standards. Mr. Easson testified that to meet the basic
requirement in this category it was not sufficient to have had experience in evaluating programs
that were not health and safety programs. He indicated that the example was provided next to
the description of Program Evaluation to illustrate precisely this point.
Mr. Easson reviewed Mr. Holder’s application and his resume. Although it was evident
that Mr. Holder had a wealth of investigation experience, Mr. Easson concluded that the
information that he provided did not demonstrate that he met the minimum levels for Health &
Safety and for Program Evaluation. With respect to Health and Safety, one of the most critical
areas, the Mr. Easson noted that the internal courses Mr. Holder had taken did not satisfy the
minimum level. Although his resume referred to “knowledge of Heath & Safety principles”, Mr.
Easson noted that there was no indication of how he acquired this knowledge or how it was
applied. He felt that the practical experience Mr. Holder gained from working for the Employer
did not met the minimum level for Health & Safety. Mr. Easson also concluded that there was
no indication that Mr. Holder had any experience in evaluating health and safety programs and
therefore fell short of the minimum level for this job requirement.
In a letter dated December 7, 2004, Mr. Easson advised Mr. Holder that he did not meet
the minimum requirements for the Workwell Evaluator position. Mr. Holder met with Mr.
Easson on January 5, 2005, to discuss why he did not met the established minimum
requirements. Mr. Holder sent an email to Mr. Easson on January 7, 2005, in which he provided
“a brief synopsis of the contents of our January 5, 2005 meeting”. The relevant portion of this
communication is as follows:
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The results of my understanding are as follows:
Health & Safety – the position requires at the minimum a certificate, Ryerson University,
for example provides an 8-course program that will meet the minimum requirements to
qualify for writing the work sample. My education and work experience does not
provide the sufficient qualifications to meet the level 6 requirement, which is usually, as
mentioned above, to include an appropriate H&S certificate.
Information Technology
Program Evaluation
Quality Management – We discussed the information that I listed under these categories
and I was able to elaborate further on how my various positions and experience provide
the necessary requirements to meet the levels required for the position. It is obvious that
I did not provide sufficient detail on the application on the application for you to reach an
informed decision. I apologize for this but was pleased that through further discussion
we were able to conclude that my past history provides sufficient knowledge and
experience to meet the requirements under these categories.
…
Conclusion
It would be appreciated if you could review the above information and comment on or
add anything that I may have missed or misunderstood.
Mr. Easson did not respond to Mr. Holder’s email. From their discussion, Mr. Holder
formed the view that Program Evaluation was no longer an issue. Mr. Easson’s failure to
address Mr. Holder’s view in this regard served to confirm this perspective. However, as noted
throughout this decision, the Employer continues to take the position that Mr. Holder did not
meet the minimum requirements for Program Evaluation. Mr. Easson testified that during their
discussion Mr. Holder indicated that he had some experience with evaluating noise abatement
programs when investigating hearing loss claims. Mr. Easson testified that this was one of about
one hundred and twenty elements of a health and safety program and that he never concluded or
advised Mr. Holder that he met the minimum requirements for Program Evaluation. He testified
that he did not respond to Mr. Holder’s email because he was “up to my eyeballs in a recruitment
process” and the email “slipped through the cracks”.
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In support of its position that Mr. Holder satisfied the minimum requirements and was
entitled to compete for the Workwell Evaluator position, Mr. Thompson submitted that Mr.
Easson utilized a higher standard during the screening process than the one set out in the posting.
He referred to the requirements under Health & Safety and Program Evaluation, particularly the
reference to “fundamental” as meaning “rudimentary”. Mr. Thompson referred to a dictionary
definition and submitted that “fundamental” knowledge means “basic” knowledge. He
submitted that it is clear from Mr. Easson’s evidence that he was looking for a more
sophisticated and extensive knowledge in the disputed areas when compared to the basic
knowledge required by the posting. Mr. Thompson noted, for instance, that the posting did not
refer to a post secondary certificate in health and safety. He argued that using a higher standard
in this instance had the effect of unfairly denying a senior employee like Mr. Holder the
opportunity to compete for the position.
Mr. Thompson argued that Mr. Holder did meet the minimum requirements as set out in
the job posting. He submitted that knowledge of health ad safety and a focus on prevention are a
part of the culture and nature of the work performed by most WSIB employees. In particular, he
submitted that it is evident from Mr. Holder’s work experience that he has a basic knowledge of
Health & Safety. Mr. Thompson argued that Program Evaluation represents a skill set that can
be applied to different contexts and that a review of Mr. Holder’s work experience amply
illustrates that he has a basic knowledge of Program Evaluation.
Mr. Thompson also took the position that the Collective Agreement requires the
Employer to consider carefully the knowledge, skills and experience gained through WSIB
employment. He referred in this respect to the statement of intent and wording in the screening
provision. In his submission, this obligation requires the Employer to seek clarification from an
13
applicant if there is some uncertainty in an employee’s application. Mr. Thompson submitted
that the screening process requires more than simply a paper review.
In support of its submissions, the Union relied on the following decisions: Re Cape
Breton District Health Authority #8 and C.A.W.-Canada, Locs 4600 &4603 (2003), 125 L.A.C.
(4th) 331 (Veniot), Re New Brunswick (South East Regional Health Authority) and C.U.P.E.
(2005), 145 L.A.C. (4th) 186 (Bruce) and Re Glen Haven Manor Corp. and C.U.P.E., Loc. 2330
(2006), 146 L.A.C. (4th) 415 (North).
Counsel for the Employer argued that Mr. Easson did not inflate the standard set out in
the posting when screening applicants for the Workwell Evaluator position. He emphasized that
the position involves the evaluation of health and safety programs of high-risk firms, an
evaluation that can have serious implications for employees and the firms that employ them. Mr.
Brar submitted that in determining what the minimum levels are for Health and Safety and
Program Evaluation, it is necessary to review what is set out in the posting in the context of the
nature of the position as disclosed in the job description. He argued that when this is done it is
clear that the posting requires an applicant to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge in the two
disputed areas.
Mr. Brar argued that Mr. Holder did not meet the minimum requirements for Health and
Safety and Program Evaluation. He submitted that Mr. Holder’s primary work experience has
been in investigations, which is essentially claims specific. With regard to Program Evaluation,
counsel submitted that Mr. Easson was correct in determining that Mr. Holder did not have the
kind of experience referred to in the example set out on the posting. Mr. Brar submitted that Mr.
Easson’s decisions on these matters were reasonable and deserved considerable deference.
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Mr. Brar also argued that there is no obligation on the Employer to go beyond a review of
the application and material submitted by an employee when engaged in the screening process.
He did not dispute that the Employer is obliged to consider an employee’s knowledge, skills and
experience gained through WSIB employment. However, he argued that there is an onus on the
employee or any applicant to provide the Employer with all of the relevant information so that it
can consider the appropriate factors when deciding whether the minimum requirements have
been satisfied. Mr. Brar submitted that, although not determinative in this case, Mr. Holder did
not include enough detail about his work experience in his application and resume.
In addition to referring to section 6:3100 in Canadian Labour Arbitration, Brown and
Beatty, the Employer relied on the following decisions: Re Toronto (City) v. Toronto Civic
Employees’ Union, [2005] O.L.A.A. No. 588 (Starkman) and Vaughan (City) v. Canadian Union
of Public Employees, Local 905, [2006] O.L.A.A. No. 334 (Luborsky).
As the parties recognized, the primary issue arising from the grievance is quite narrow.
That issue is whether Mr. Holder met the established minimum job requirements in the
Workwell Evaluator competition. The onus is on the Union to demonstrate that he did meet
these requirements, thereby entitling him to be included in the selection process. After
considering all of the evidence and the submissions, it is my conclusion that the grievance cannot
succeed.
I do not agree with the Union’s submission that Mr. Easson was obliged to follow up
with an applicant during the screening process if there was information that required
clarification. Although Article 5 of the Collective Agreement places many requirements on the
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Employer when posting a vacancy, there is no specific reference to an obligation of the sort
articulated by the Union. Indeed, the screening provision merely provides that “all applications
will be reviewed” and indicates, in my view, that the review will include a consideration of an
applicant’s knowledge, skills and experience gained through WSIB employment, as disclosed in
the application. Given the existence of a screening process, reasonable employees would
understand that it is necessary to provide as much detail as possible about their knowledge and
ability and that their failure to do so may have adverse consequences. Mr. Holder did not
suggest in his testimony that he expected the Employer to make further inquiries if any
information in his application was unclear. In fact, he apologizes as his email of January 7, 2005
to Mr. Easson for not including sufficient detail in his application. In any event, having
considered the evidence, it is my view that any additional information or clarification that Mr.
Holder could have provided with his application would not have affected Mr. Easson’s
determination of the matter or the result in this case.
There is no doubt that Mr. Easson was required to assess all applicants during the
screening process based on the established minimum requirements in the posting. Article 5.02(a)
provides that all postings will include, among other items, the established minimum
requirements. The screening provision itself compels a review of the application to determine if
the applicant has met “the established minimum requirements”. As referred to previously, the
posting in this instance sets out the minimum job requirements for Health & Safety and Program
Evaluation. An assessment of Mr. Holder or any other applicant based on higher standards than
those contained in the posting would be inappropriate and contrary to the Collective Agreement.
However, even if Mr. Easson utilized a higher standard than the one disclosed in the posting, the
onus remains on the Union to demonstrate that Mr. Holder met the minimum requirements
referred to in the posting.
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I will first address whether Mr. Holder met the minimum requirement for Program
Evaluation. I agree with the Union’s submission that the description of Program Evaluation in
the posting indicates, in effect, that basic and not expert knowledge is the minimum level
required. However, in determining what basic knowledge consists of, it is necessary to take into
account the example set out beside the description. This is the only job requirement where the
Employer provided a specific example next to the description, which suggests that it intended to
make clear what was necessary to meet the minimum level for this item. To reiterate, the
example clearly indicates that basic knowledge of measuring “h&s programs against known
standards through audit” was required. Simply having some general knowledge or experience in
evaluating non-health and safety programs would not satisfy the minimum requirement.
In assessing whether Mr. Holder met the minimum requirement for Program Evaluation,
Mr. Easson did apply the standard set out in the posting. He concluded that Mr. Holder’s
application and resume did not disclose that he had the knowledge from experience that satisfied
the established minimum requirement. In my view, his conclusion in this regard was both
reasonable and correct. A careful review of the information about the tasks Mr. Holder
performed at the WSIB as contained in his application and resume does not indicate any
significant knowledge or experience in auditing health and safety programs against known
standards. Although he recognized in his January 7, 2005 email to Mr. Easson that it was
obvious that he did not provide sufficient detail for Mr. Easson to make an informed decision,
the additional information in his testimony also did not demonstrate that Mr. Holder met the
minimum level for this job requirement. In one sense, evaluation is a skill set that can be applied
to various areas. However, it appears that Mr. Holder had little meaningful experience in
evaluating programs. It is certainly the case that he did not have any experience that would
17
provide him with even a basic knowledge of auditing health and safety programs against known
standards, which is what the minimum level in the posting required.
It is unfortunate that Mr. Easson did not respond to Mr. Holder’s email, leaving him with
the impression that there was no longer an issue with Program Evaluation. However, the
absence of a response from Mr. Easson does not alter the central issue, nor does it alter the clear
evidence that Mr. Holder did not meet the minimum level for this item. I agree with Mr.
Easson’s assessment that Mr. Holder’s experience in evaluating hearing loss claims is only one
element of over one hundred that may constitute a health and safety program and is not sufficient
to meet the minimum level referred to in the posting.
By itself, the failure of Mr. Holder to meet the minimum requirement for Program
Evaluation is sufficient to cause his grievance to fail. Since it is unnecessary to do so, there is no
purpose in determining whether Mr. Holder met the established minimum requirement for Health
& Safety. I simply note that there is merit in the Union’s submission that Mr. Easson did use a
higher standard than the established minimum requirement for Health & Safety set out in the
posting. The description in the posting does suggest that a basic knowledge of health and safety
is required and not a higher level as reflected by requiring a post secondary degree in health and
safety or many years of experience in developing, auditing or supervising health and safety
programs. It may very well be that the Workwell Evaluator position deserves the standard
utilized by Mr. Easson. If so, this higher standard should have been included in the posting as
the established minimum requirement. It is reasonable to assume that any future posting for the
position will include a higher minimum requirement.
18
Mr. Holder obviously has some knowledge of health and safety matters. The more
difficult question and one I found unnecessary to address is whether his knowledge is sufficient
to meet the established minimum requirement in the posting.
Mr. Holder is a senior employee, but his seniority standing is not relevant during
the screening process. Indeed, seniority does not become a factor in a competition until an
applicant is identified as qualified for a vacant position. Although Mr. Holder is obviously a
valuable employee, his experience was not sufficient to meet all of the established minimum
requirements for the Workwell Evaluator position.
For the foregoing reasons, Mr. Holder’s grievance dated January 14, 2005, is hereby
dismissed.
Dated at Toronto, this 29th day of March, 2007.
Ken Petryshen – Vice-Chair