Government worker complains senior scientist was naked on video call

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A federal worker has filed a human rights complaint against Environment and Climate Change Canada claiming the department discriminated against her for reporting a government research scientist for exposing himself on a work video call.

Sherry Bennett, 67, of Richmond Hill, who has worked as a government administrative officer for more than 15 years, said she logged in early for a 10 a.m. video conference with work colleagues at Environment and Climate Change Canada on May 13, 2021. It was during the third wave of COVID infection and online meetings had become a new normal.

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While waiting for the meeting to start, Bennett says in her complaint filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, a male senior research scientist stood up on camera while naked from the waist down.

“Seeing the scientist’s penis and buttocks triggered symptoms of Sherry’s PTSD from a former sexual assault she had experienced,” her complaint says.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is the federal department responsible for environmental policies and programs and for predicting weather. It is still frequently known by its old name, Environment Canada.

Asked about the complaint by National Post, a spokesman said the department does not comment on individual cases, citing the Privacy Act.

“Environment and Climate Change Canada is committed to having a harassment-free workplace,” said Brandon Clim. “The department continues to work with all partners in promoting a healthy and respectful workplace, ensuring that employees operate in an environment of respect, dignity, and fairness.”

That doesn’t correspond with how Bennett alleges she was treated by her managers at Environment Canada.

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Bennett’s claim says she reported the incident to her managers, and then the government’s handling of her report stretched unsatisfactorily over almost four years, leading to her human rights complaint.

Two weeks after she reported the video call, she had a meeting with her team lead and a senior manager about it, according to her claim. She says she was told the nudity couldn’t have happened “as the four others on the call at the time had not seen anything and because they believed the scientist would never do something like that.”

Yet managers also allegedly said the incident was “laughable,” not a big deal, and compared it to someone streaking across a football field, according to her claim.

During the meeting, Bennett alleges her two bosses “made numerous discriminatory remarks and actions”: they implied she was crazy by asking her what medications she is on, and whether her doctors had “fixed her” yet, they laughed at her trauma, and asked why she doesn’t “just retire.”

She was told the department was not proceeding with an investigation and made no disciplinary recommendations regarding the scientist, her claim says.

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She also claims Environment Canada officials threatened her not to name the scientist, telling her she would be sued for defamation if she did.

The research scientist is not named in the complaint.

Bennet’s claim alleges years of inappropriate and ineffective interactions that compounded her problems and punished her for reporting it.

“When she initially came to me, I was floored by the fact that the government had done absolutely nothing,” said Kathryn Marshall, founding partner of Marshall Law LLP, in an interview. “And not only had they done nothing to help her, protect her, or address the sexual harassment, they punished her. What is stopping them from addressing the issue? Why is the victim being punished?

“The only explanation I have, other than general incompetence, is that this scientist is someone they want to protect, that he’s important,” Marshall said.

The claim does not say whether the alleged exposure was intentional or accidental. Marshall said she believes it was intentional. 

Bennett’s claim says bosses continued to imply she was crazy, questioning her about what leave she would take, micromanaging her work, and recommending she go on disability leave. She went on unpaid medical leave ten months after the video meeting.

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In June 2022, she filed a formal notice of occurrence with Environment Canada and the following December she was interviewed by an investigator.

Bennett later found that the investigator had been told by management to investigate three issues, none of them being whether she was traumatized by the scientist exposing his genitalia on the video call, according to her claim.

A medical report from a third party said she was able to return to work with limitations, but her discussions about her return were discriminatory and failed to accommodate her medical limitations, her claim says.

She has since been prohibited from returning to work and remains on unpaid leave, her complaint says.

Bennett’s claim seeks a remedy of $40,000 in damages, plus her lost wages and benefits, and reimbursement of medical expenses, as well as a public apology. She also seeks an order for Environment Canada managers to undergo training.

The allegations have not yet been heard or tested by the human rights commission.

• Email: ahumphreys@postmedia.com | X: AD_Humphreys

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