A recent human rights decision out of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal serves as a clear reminder – the duty to accommodate applies from the very first interaction with a job applicant. An employer who dismissed a candidate with disabilities without exploring accommodation was ordered to pay $15,000 in damages. Here’s what HR professionals need to know to avoid similar missteps.
In Shahbakhshi v. Melo and another, 2025 BCHRT 87, the job applicant, Yassaman Shahbakhshi, attended a job interview at Pure Luxe Salon for a laser technician position along with a sign language interpreter. The employer, Melo, was not aware that Shahbakhshi was deaf before the interview.