Thursday, August 11, 2022 Terminated for Taking Paper Towel? An emergency department worker at Toronto’s Humber River Hospital was fired in 2021 for stealing hospital supplies—specifically, paper towels. Her union fought the termination. What did the arbitrator decide? Guide Magazine A 54-year-old full-time unit aide had been spotted by another employee concealing items from the supply room in her personal bag and leaving her shift early with the supplies on two separate occasions. When management questioned her, she denied stealing and said a coworker had given her the supplies. When confronted with surveillance video showing her taking the items from the supply room, she claimed the housekeeper said she could have them. The housekeeper denied this. After completing the investigation, management terminated the woman’s employment, stating it was for two incidents of theft, leaving her shift early on those days, and dishonesty during the investigation. She had worked in her position since 2012. The union argued termination was excessive. During the arbitration hearing, the worker claimed she didn’t realize what she was doing at the time, was concerned about paper product shortages due to the pandemic, and had generalized anxiety disorder. She promised to never steal again, would pay for the paper towels, and the union claimed the theft occurred during a “moment of emotional crisis.” The arbitrator found that although she admitted her guilt and offered to pay for the supplies during the hearing, she’d had more than one opportunity to do so during the initial investigation. But instead, she had been dishonest and implicated a coworker. As well, the arbitrator stated her medical condition did not prevent her from knowing that what she was doing was wrong. The arbitrator ruled the employment relationship was damaged beyond repair, and the termination was upheld. “The relative low value of the stolen paper towels wasn’t a consideration. . . . It’s about trust," says Sharaf Sultan, Sultan Lawyers Source: hrreporter.com You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026