OK to Fire Courier for Receiving Package Containing Marijuana at Work

Because a registered package addressed to a courier reeked of marijuana, a manager took the liberty of opening it. Sure enough, it contained pot. So the courier was fired. He denied knowing anything about the marijuana even though it was sent by his brother; he claimed he was expecting tools. But the court ruled that the courier was an independent contractor and the company had just cause to end his contract without notice. Tolerating drug use by drivers could lead to criminal charges and destroy the company’s business, the court reasoned [Hollander v. Tiger Courier Inc., [2012] SKQB 5 (CanLII), Jan. 6, 2012].