Adjudicator saw a narrative shift the moment worker tried to change his own words
A Ford Motor Company of Canada assembly worker who asked the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to substitute the word "disabilities" for every mention of "health and safety concern" in his witness statement has lost his discrimination and reprisal case after being fired over an alleged assault on a manager.
In a decision dated April 23, 2026, adjudicator Kelly Barker dismissed Sean Rudge's application against Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited, finding his major depressive disorder and anxiety features were not a factor in his March 2017 termination. Rudge had worked on the company's vehicle assembly line from around October 1, 1998, until his termination with cause on March 7, 2017.
The events began over glass production. During the overnight shift of August 17 to August 18, 2016, Rudge was working on the assembly line and was approached about not building up enough glass. A dispute arose, which resulted in the applicant being ordered to leave the assembly line floor area and attend the upstairs labour relations area.
Rudge then called a "Stage 3 work refusal" and following this, security was called. As part of the dispute, the Team Manager, Jake Hanson, attended the scene. A disputed incident occurred while the applicant was on route to labour relations.
Hanson alleged he was struck. Rudge denied it. An email dated August 17, 2016, from Zak...
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