Witness Testimony

Jacques Robert, a manager of technical services in the property management field with over 15 years at a national real estate services company, testified that he was placed on an eight-week unpaid leave and subsequently terminated in January 2022 after refusing to comply with a corporate vaccination attestation policy. He stated that no medical or religious exemptions were offered and that testing was not accepted as an alternative to vaccination. Although his role had been performed remotely during earlier lockdowns, remote work was not offered as an accommodation following his refusal to disclose vaccination status.
Mr. Robert testified that he received severance and short-term employment insurance benefits but has since relied on personal savings while attempting to establish self-employment. He expressed concern that his public stance may limit future employment opportunities in his field. He also described broader impacts of corporate policies, including requirements imposed on third-party service providers entering company buildings and detailed workplace measures such as directional floor markings, masking in private offices, elevator restrictions, and staggered office attendance, which he characterized as excessive and divisive.
He further testified to the emotional and relational consequences of his dismissal, including inability to attend grandchildren’s indoor sporting events due to mandates and tensions within his family over differing views on vaccination. He described feelings of betrayal, devaluation, and dehumanization following his termination, stating that the trust and sense of belonging built over his career were permanently damaged. He indicated that while he considered a human rights complaint, he was advised at the time that such action would face legal uncertainty.