CP Rail fires conductor again, this time after revealing social media pictures and po

B00Mer

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CP Rail fires conductor again, this time after revealing social media pictures and posts



The train conductor who was in the locomotive during a 2014 Banff derailment has once again been fired by CP Rail, this time after butting heads with the company over social media posts, including "racy" boudoir photos.

The railroad fired Stephanie Katelnikoff in November after accusing her of violating CP Rail's code of ethics and its internet and email policy, according to evidence presented by the company as part of an internal investigation into her conduct.

The evidence package, obtained by CBC News, includes photos posted by Katelnikoff on her personal Facebook and Instagram accounts, showing her in various revealing, nude and sexually suggestive poses. Some of the photos show Katelnikoff standing on railway tracks.

In some posts, she talks about her pride in her job on a train crew, while in others she is critical of the company and its management. She doesn't use her real name, but does say she works for CP Rail.

Cleared of fault in derailment

Katelnikoff was initially fired after the Banff derailment, which saw 15 cars carrying grains and fly ash, a material used to make concrete, go off the track west of the tourist town. She was reinstated nearly two years ago after an arbitrator ruled in her favour and found one of the reasons Katelnikoff was dismissed was because she had filed a sexual harassment complaint against a fellow employee.

Investigators determined a damaged portion of track was to blame for the derailment.

Now, Katelnikoff says this latest firing seems to equally be about her photos and her negative comments toward the company.

"I think it was a 50/50 split between the two. When I got dismissed, they blanketed everything together and said I was being dismissed for my inappropriate social media content. So I'm not sure what of my content they've deemed appropriate and inappropriate," she said. "The investigative officer called my social media content graphic."

Katelnikoff said she regrets some of her comments, such as calling the company's code of ethics a "fictional comedy," and she regrets photos which were taken on railroad tracks.

"It's dangerous and I don't recommend anyone does it," she said.

The other pictures she said are part of her modelling hobby.

"I don't regret creating that art or sharing that art."

Prior warning

CP Rail did not respond to an interview request. However, the evidence package shows Katelnikoff also received a prior warning in 2016 for posting a YouTube video in which she criticized then-CEO Hunter Harrison.

CP Rail's code of conduct posted online does not have a section specifically dealing with social media and a manager told Katelnikoff there was no social media policy.

In 2016, when Katelnikoff won her wrongful dismissal case against CP Rail, she told CBC News, "I definitely think I'm going back with a giant target on my back."

Katelnikoff's union, Teamsters Canada, also declined to comment. Katelnikoff said the union has filed a grievance on her behalf.

While CP Rail has the right to crack down on employees who criticize the company in public, some experts say management may have been too heavy-handed in its judgment of some of Katelnikoff's posts.

"I was surprised that in the investigative material, CP choose to produce the racy photographs," said Drew Jarisz, an Edmonton-based employment lawyer at Taylor Janis Workplace Law.

"I think it probably hurts their case to substantiate a for-cause allegation, because to me now, in addition to reprimanding her for making derogatory remarks, let's call them, about the company, it seems as if they are trying to impose their own moral standard and that's too far for the company to go," he said.

"I find it very difficult in this case to see how these racy images could impact the ability of CP to carry on business," said Jarisz.

Katelnikoff said she is now waiting for a date to be set for arbitration and despite her eventful history with the company, she still hopes to be back in a train locomotive soon.

"The work itself is amazing. It's my favourite job I've ever had."

CP Rail fires conductor again, this time after revealing social media pictures and posts - Business - CBC News
 

Hoid

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seems like a pretty straight forward human rights violation.

It would be informative to get a hiold of CPs entire file on employee social media screening.
 

JLM

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seems like a pretty straight forward human rights violation.

It would be informative to get a hiold of CPs entire file on employee social media screening.

"In some posts, she talks about her pride in her job on a train crew, while in others she is critical of the company and its management".

Once you start bad mouthing the Company you work for I think you are automatically on a 'slippery slope'.
 

spaminator

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Sexy CP conductor fired for social media posts waiting on arbitrator
Canadian Press
Published:
November 29, 2019
Updated:
November 29, 2019 5:28 PM EST
Stephanie Katelnikoff poses in this undated handout photo. Shamas Malik / THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY — A train conductor who was fired from Canadian Pacific Railway two years ago over social media posts says she expects to find out soon whether she’ll get her job back.
Stephanie Katelnikoff, 30, said Friday she’s expecting an arbitration decision in the next two weeks, but declined to comment further.
CP has said it dismissed Katelnikoff in November 2017 because of disparaging remarks she made online about the company and over photographs she posted of herself in unsafe situations, including modelling pictures on railway property.
The union representing Katelnikoff argued in its submissions, which were obtained by The Canadian Press, that the company’s investigation was not fair.
“The union contends that the discipline assessed to Ms. Katelnikoff is unjustified, unwarranted and excessive in all of the circumstances, including mitigating factors evident in this matter,” a union lawyer wrote.
Story continues below
“The union requests that the discipline be removed in its entirety and that Ms. Katelnikoff be made whole for all associated losses.”
Stephanie Katelnikoff poses in this undated photo.
It said Katelnikoff’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can be linked to impulse control, should have been taken into account. The union said the condition is being managed with medication and therapy.
The company’s submissions, also obtained by The Canadian Press, said the union failed to “establish any link between the grievor’s alleged medical condition and her misconduct.”
It said Katelnikoff’s behaviour could have caused substantial harm to the rail company’s interests and reputation.
Nice track! CP conductor reportedly derails career with racy Instagram pics
“Not only did her behaviour create a material risk that members of the public would associate her lackadaisical attitude towards railway safety with the company, her disparaging comments about the company and its policies undermined the company’s ability to effectively manage its operations and direct its workforce.”
The company document indicated that Katelnikoff couldn’t remember when the railroad photos were taken, but that she believed she was not working for CP at the time.
It cites a 2016 Facebook post that calls the railway’s code of ethics a “short fictional comedy” and a profile description that says “Resume: Google Banff train crash,” followed by a laughing emoji. Katelnikoff was involved in a derailment in Banff National Park nearly five years ago.
In addition to the railroad photos, Canadian Pacific seemed to take issue with racy pictures posted to the same Instagram account as another 2017 selfie of her in a work vest.
“The CP Rail logo was visible in the photo, which appeared in the grievor’s Instagram page alongside nude, partially nude and sexually explicit photos of the grievor.”
The document said Katelnikoff offered to post an apology letter for online remarks, but the company said it doubted her remorse was sincere.
Katelnikoff’s dismissal in November 2017 was the second time she was let go from the railway.
On Boxing Day in 2014, a train Katelnikoff was conducting derailed, sending 15 cars off the tracks in Banff, Alta.
The Transportation Safety Board determined that a broken piece of track caused the crash.
She was fired a month later. The company said it was because she violated rules on injury reporting and protecting an accident scene.
In February 2016, an arbitrator found in Katelnikoff’s favour, saying the grounds for termination were discriminatory and in bad faith.

http://torontosun.com/news/national...-for-social-media-posts-waiting-on-arbitrator