Adverse Effect Discrimination
Employers, landlords, and service providers often think that if they treat everyone the same, they are not discriminating. However, sometimes treating everyone the same can cause a burden for someone because of one of the characteristics covered by the NWT Human Rights Act. For example:
- A waitress at a restaurant is told she must wear the restaurant uniform. She is Muslim and wears a hijab (head scarf). Her employer says that she must dress like everyone else and remove her hijab. (Adverse effect based on religion.)
- Mike is a single father of a special needs child. His child has appointments with a specialist every Friday morning. Mike asks his boss if he can start and end work an hour later on Fridays. Mike’s boss insists that Mike work the same hours as everyone else. (Adverse effect based on family status.)
- Jill has a learning disability. She needs extra time to write exams. The school explains to Jill that she will have the same amount of time as everyone else. (Adverse effect based on disability.)
→ For information about the types of discrimination covered by the Act, visit Areas & Grounds.
If you have questions or concerns about a specific situation,
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