Alright...I have a short ethics presentation coming up in regards to a case study A student is requesting to work at a professor's research lab. One of the lab rule states that the student cannot have/start a romance relationship with another lab individual due to the professor's past experience that such a relationship will decrease lab productivity. So I have to set up an argument on the student's side regarding an invasion of privacy. Hopefully we have some lawyers in this bunch that can possibly help me out...just a very short 2 minute presentation and I have no idea what to talk about or back up any points... does anyone know of any law or charter in Canadian law that states this is a private matter and does not relate to work?? thanks
I'm not familiar with the Canadian law on this but as an argument on the side of the student I'll think of this: Each individual/couple is different and despite the past experience of the Professor it doesn't mean that he can forbid romance relationships at work; who knows a couple can even increase the productivity in the lab. He cannot decide what to do or not to do when it comes to the love lives of his students at work, it's still a private matter he has no control over it. (The Professor also can't outrule people's feelings towards each other methinks?) Just my 2 cents.
That "policy" is just one way to protect the lab: they would definitely welcome "workplace romance" if it is beneficial to productivity. However, if the potential "workplace romance" does in fact reduce productivity, the lab reserves the right to investigate (likely involving medium which invades the individuals involved's privacy) and dismiss the two individuals involved (since it's stated in the policy that such act is prohibited). You can call upon the independence of productivity and romance: the lab is just finding an excuse to peek into the individual's lives. For most people, productivity and romance do not display a conflict of interest so it is unreasonable to dismiss a person solely on the merit of "workplace romance". Personally I found the issue more towards discrimination than invasion of privacy... -unsure And oh, while the professor is justified to dismiss anyone with decreased productivity, the FACT that he will be dismissing staffs based on "workplace romance" itself is unjustified and a blatant invasion of privacy.
i believe it is article 6 and 2 of the quebec civil code...which only works if you are in the province of quebec whilst common law (case law) the rest of canada...dont want to explain that ...too long.. As i remember it, article 2 pertains to freedoms of rights that everyone that is born with and no one can take away...unless there is treason...(against the country)...u have to check the article... the other code is the "good faith" ...I',m sure it is article 6 or 7...the professor is not acting in good faith in believing that his student would cause trouble/problems in the work place. students will undoubtfully be disappointed and in its irony, by instilling such a policy, he, the profeessor MAY cause low productivity. I dont think it has anything to do with discrimination, of course, arguable. The definition of "lab individual" has also be clearly define, IMO. If it is the case where one person has power over the other, then it could led to "harassement" etc. You might want to cite some statistics/facts that can justify your case...
^ lol.. exactly wat i tot.. adrianc study law? i'm studying contract law right now.. n glad i'm not going to be a lawyer.. lol.. is it ur choice to deal with it from privacy point of view? or told to do so?
I don't know about Canadian law, but here in the US, its totally within the law for companies to put in a workplace romance restrictions.
In fact the same can be said of Canada. But nobody starting a class action doesn't mean it's not an infringement of privacy.
The reason why they implemented a dress code was to allow them to dismiss whoever breaches the "code of conduct"... Then again, employment usually asks for a piece of your soul, so invasion of privacy isn't so surprising afterall.
Not really an invasion of privacy when you chose to work for a company that had dress code and workplace romance restrictions. In the example of the OP, the professor told the student ahead of time, so its his/her choice to accept the rules and work there.
not a lawyer, but had to take several law courses for school...it comes in handy...I think everyone should learn it....got straight As...the prof wanted me to continue studying law...hehe The question we usually ask then. Does the company policy supercede the law? Company policies generally follows the law, like no guns etc, but there are times when it goes against it...how? an example would be if you work for an US company, and they decide to implement their policy into the Canadian culture. The law generally have some differences...pension plan obligation///etc
hey thanks you all for your contribution.... in reply to someone's question, it is my part of the argument (group project) to talk about invasion of privacy and yes, thanks adrianc for your great insight to the law aspect of this also where would i have access online to canadian law, the actual article of the "good faith"
Dood/// surf the web... it is article 6...in fact, articles 1 through 6 probably apply...or else you would not learn it... it is under quebec civil code/// thing is, if you are doing a presentation on ethics, why get law involved? is it ethical to impose a policy like that? We all expect ppl to act professionally in the work force, but there are always bad apples...and that's what the prof want to weed out...have fun with the assignment ...
