Best Buy Canada has been directed by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) to compensate a former employee with over $60,000 in lost wages and damages after the tribunal ruled that the company discriminated against him due to a disability. Vikas Sharma was fired from his role at a Coquitlam Best Buy in April 2021, shortly after he requested accommodations for a severe knee injury. The tribunal’s decision, released recently, emphasized that Sharma’s injury qualified as a disability, and under the B.C. Human Rights Code, Best Buy was obligated to make accommodations.
Tribunal member Amber Prince stated that instead of exploring alternative positions for Sharma, despite his strong performance history, the electronics retailer terminated his employment. The evidence indicated that Sharma’s knee injury played a role in his dismissal. Best Buy’s assertion that Sharma’s firing was part of a broader company restructuring was dismissed by Prince. She highlighted that Sharma actively sought other job opportunities to manage his injury and that another employee at his location accepted a demotion during the restructuring.
Sharma, who joined Best Buy in 2018 and was later promoted to a managerial role, received accolades for his exceptional work during the pandemic. He sought adjustments at work in February 2021 due to recurring knee pain, which limited his ability to stand or walk for extended periods. Despite applying for various alternative roles within the company, none were offered to him. His position was ultimately eliminated in April 2021, with Sharma feeling undervalued and betrayed after his dedicated service during the COVID-19 crisis.
Best Buy was ordered by Prince to compensate Sharma for lost wages, expenses, and injury to his dignity, totaling nearly $60,000, inclusive of interest. The company has filed for reconsideration, as confirmed in a statement to CBC News.