The Ontario Trucking Association has been working with the Canadian Sikh Association on a variety of trucking and truck driver related issues with a goal of improving communication between various aspects of the trucking community.
One of the issues involves workplace accommodation of Sikh truck drivers who are obliged to wear turbans as a bona fide article of faith. For years the issue has been clouded in some ambiguity; however, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom and the Ontario Human Rights Code require employers to accommodate turbaned truck drivers to the point of “undue hardship.”
The Canadian Sikh Association has provided the OTA with a backgrounder on the issue and well as a legal opinion that can help employers navigate the issue, guide sound HR policies, and perhaps educate others in the supply chain on responsibilities regarding accommodation.
Legal Report click here: The Sikh Turban-Report_public
Backgrounder click here: The Sikh Turban_public