The board found all three elements of reprisal and awarded over $5,800
She told her boss she was assaulted at work. The response was to tell her to quit.
When a worker at an Ontario pet spa reported being assaulted by a client and subjected to sexualized remarks from a colleague, her employer's response was not an investigation. It was a suggestion to leave. In a March 11, 2026, decision, Ontario Labour Relations Board Vice-Chair Peigi Ross found that Bark Avenue Pet Spa violated the Occupational Health and Safety Act by retaliating against Penka Trendafilova for raising workplace safety concerns, and ordered the company to pay more than $5,800 in damages.
In late February 2025, Trendafilova reported to Bark Avenue that she had been assaulted by a client. She also reported that a colleague had made sexualized remarks to the effect that she was a “good fit” and that she might start dating him. The employer held two meetings but did not investigate the complaint of workplace violence or harassment as required under section 32.0.7(1)(a) of the Act. Discussions instead focused on clients being unhappy with last-minute cancellations, the cold in the salon, and Trendafilova's own concerns about cleanliness.
After Trendafilova reported the assault, the owner told her that if she was unhappy in her employment, she could leave.
On or about February 24, 2025, her schedule was cut from five days a week to two, and she was reassigned to a related business, TLC spa, owned by the same...
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