B.C. court ruling could shape remote work mandates

A recent British Columbia Court of Appeal decision may influence how employers across Canada handle returntooffice plans and remote work arrangements. The court upheld a ruling that a Vancouver employee was constructively dismissed after her employer abruptly ended a longstanding workfromhome arrangement and required her to return to the office full time. The employee had worked flexibly for years, including during and after the pandemic, with support from successive supervisors. Employment lawyers say the case does not ban returntooffice policies, but it does show that employers may face legal risk if they change remote work terms too quickly or without clear notice. The decision may also encourage more employees to challenge sudden workplace changes, especially where flexible work has become part of the job over time.