CBSA dog handler 'was a victim of harassment through mobbing, through a lack of management responses,' finds investigation
A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) dog handler experienced workplace harassment after challenging the agency’s restrictive maternity leave policy, according to a report.
Danielle Getzie, who worked in the CBSA’s Detector Dog Service at Vancouver International Airport, filed a grievance in 2018 over a policy that capped handlers’ leaves at 90 days, CBC reported.
The rule, designed to maintain continuity between detector dogs and their handlers, made it particularly difficult for new parents to return to their roles. Getzie argued the policy was discriminatory—an adjudicator later agreed.
Harassment through mobbing
However, CBC reports that Getzie faced significant hostility at work after filing her complaint. A third-party investigator, brought in through CBSA’s National Integrity Centre of Expertise (NICE), found that Getzie was a victim of harassment, referring to bullying by a group of employees.
According to the report, one colleague’s “strong dislike” of Getzie influenced others to intimidate her, while management largely failed to respond.
Getzie “was a victim of harassment through mobbing, through a lack of management responses,” the investigator noted, as cited by CBC.
“It is a failure by the system,” the investigator’s report stated.
Fifteen percent of mothers in Canada report being dismissed, laid off or having their contracts not renewed during pregnancy, maternity leave or shortly after returning to work, according to a previous report.
Although Getzie’s concerns were brought to supervisors, the primary response was a schedule change—an action the investigator deemed insufficient.
“Mob mentality is alive and real,” Getzie told CBC. “Management did not protect me against severe bullying and harassment in the workplace.”
The NICE investigation did not assign blame but recommended that CBSA conduct a full workplace assessment to evaluate the presence and enforcement of relevant policies.
Previously, an Ontario worker was awarded more than $43,000 in damages for discrimination and lost wages after her former employer denied her the right to return to her pre-maternity leave position and favoured the employee who replaced her during her leave.
Revised maternity leave policy
In a statement to CBC, CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer said the agency could not comment on Getzie’s case due to privacy rules, but emphasised its commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and harassment-free workplace.
He confirmed that as of April 2024, the leave policy has been revised. Under the new guidelines, each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and employees returning from protected leave may be reassigned either to their previous dog or a new detector dog.
Getzie remains on unpaid leave while pursuing a labour grievance and awaiting a decision from the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Recently, Starbucks announced it is bolstering its parental benefits, giving new parents more financial support during a pivotal life stage.
