Reference no: EM132872068

Fantaware Inc. is a non-unionized company located in London, Ontario that manufactures and supplies drones to businesses across Canada ("FI"). FI has been in business for over 10 years and has 560 employees with an annual payroll of $2.2 million dollars.

Kai has been employed with FI for 7 years and currently earns $1200.00 per week, paid bi-weekly. As the Electrical Engineering Manager, Kai has responsibility for leading the company's projects in the London area. Kai has received bi-annual performance evaluations and has been rated as "meets expectations", however, recently Kai has started leaving work very early and even missing work.

Baldeep also works at FI as the Operations Manager. Baldeep has known Kai for 3 years, but about six months ago Kai started reporting directly to Baldeep. Last week, Baldeep called the Vice- President of FI into his office and explained that he thinks Kai must be dismissed from the company as he believes Kai is using drugs at work. Baldeep described how, in addition to the aforementioned recent attendance issues, Kai has also been very distracted during meetings, has been described by other employees as "behaving erratically", and at times he has witnessed Kai being belligerent towards other employees. Baldeep's explained how his concerns were solidified when one of his other employees, Bradd, showed Baldeep a recent Facebook post that Kai 'liked' that stated "Cocaine...it's a heck of a drug!"

FI is in the midst of finalizing its largest contract in company history with The Correctional Service of Canada, and Baldeep is concerned that Kai could ruin this immense opportunity, not to mention the other issues Kai's behavior can cause FI. Baldeep would like to terminate Kai next week.

You are a Human Resources associate at FI reporting to the Human Resources Manager ("HRM"), Beth. Beth explains the above situation to you and wants you to provide her with an opinion that addresses the questions below. As you leave Beth's office, you think about how coincidental it is to hear about this situation with Kai, as you recently overheard employees talking in the lunchroom about how Kai and Baldeep's ex-wife, who also works at FI, are dating.

Questions:

-Do you think FI should terminate Kai next week? Explain.

-Assume the Executive Team at FI has decided that they are going to dismiss Kai next week. Explain the potential legal issues, if any, FI should take into account with such termination, including how you would suggest the termination be handled.

-What recommendations, if any, would you give to Beth about how to improve the strength of FI's human resources practices?