VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – A grocery store in Victoria has been found to have broken human rights laws for firing a depressed employee.

BC’s Human Rights Tribunal ruled Thrifty Foods discriminated against Sharon Mackenzie when it dismissed her for behaviour including mood swings and irritability with her managers.

The tribunal found there was a link between the woman’s diagnosed depression and the behaviour she was chastised for, but the store did not appear to make any efforts to make accommodations.

Tribunal member Catherine McCreary says Thrifty’s had a duty to inquire into whether the woman’s unpleasant demeanour was related to her mental disability.

The store must pay Mackenzie more than $17,600 for lost wages and $5,000 for injury to dignity. The store has also been ordered to refrain from committing the same discriminatory act in the future.