One of the goals of legislation such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”) and the Human Rights Code (the “Code”) is to promote accessibility and accommodation in various forums, including the workplace. However, when it becomes clear that, despite accommodating an employee to the point of undue hardship, a disabled employee will never again be able to return to his or her job or be accommodated in another position, what can an employer do?
Frustration of contract
Frustration of contract occurs when a permanently disabled employee cannot return to work because the disability makes it impossible for the employee to perform the contract. Put another way, a contract is frustrated where there is no reasonable likelihood of the employee being able to return to work in the foreseeable future.
Although it seems like a simple concept, employers should exercise caution before relying on this doctrine to treat an employment relationship as at an end. Courts do not make findings of frustration lightly, and the onus is on employers to prove that the employment contract has been frustrated.
Where employees have been absent for a long period of time, employers should seek medical evidence, including the employee’s prognosis, to determine whether they are likely to be able to return to work in a reasonable time period. Remember that a disability insurance provider’s assessment is not necessarily determinative, because the plan may use different criteria than a court would apply.
It is also important to note that employers cannot simply rely on “deemed termination” provisions, often found in collective agreements, to prove frustration. Although an agreement may indicate that employment is frustrated when an employee is absent from the workplace for two years, employers must make individual determinations based on the available evidence.
In order for frustration to occur, the event that precludes the performance of the contract must be outside of the parties’ control and unforeseen. Where there are provisions for sickness pay and disability insurance in place, courts are less likely to treat an employment contract as frustrated. Such provisions indicate that disability was contemplated by the contract of employment, and therefore that the contract cannot easily be frustrated by a disability. Courts regularly find that, although employees have been away from work on long term disability for several years, their contracts are not frustrated.
There are factors that make a finding of frustration more likely. For example, where the employment contract is for a fixed term, as opposed to indefinite, courts are more likely to find frustration where there is a lengthy absence with no reasonable prospect of the employee being able to return in the near future. Further, courts are more likely to find frustration where the employee had a key position within the organization that must be filled. Courts are less likely to find that there has been frustration for low-level employees who are not key to the organization.
The takeaway
There are several issues that employers should consider before treating a contract as at an end due to frustration. Employees, especially those who had longer periods of service before becoming disabled, are likely to make claims for wrongful dismissal in attempts to access their entitlement to common law reasonable notice. Such claims can be time-consuming and costly to defend.
Parenthetically, where frustration has occurred as a result of disability, employers must still pay employees their minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act.
It would be prudent to consult with an employment lawyer before making the determination that an employment contract has been frustrated. Where employers get it wrong, they are exposed to liability for wrongful dismissal, and potentially for violating the employee’s right to be free from discrimination based on disability.
Accessibility Standards PolicyPro® (ASPP) from First Reference is the only product to offer a step-by-step approach to compliance with all standards under the AODA.
With exclusive accessibility tools and resources—including all the policies, procedures, plans and practical advice you need to fulfil your legal obligations—ASPP will help you meet current and upcoming AODA requirements.
Click here for a free trial!
- Ontario legislature passes Bill 186 – Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 – Job protection for workers due to COVID-19 - March 24, 2020
- A wrongful dismissal time warp – When is two years really six? - December 23, 2019
- Embracing the #MeToo movement - October 29, 2019