Question
Peter Standtall, an African Nova Scotian who became a practicing Catholic in 1992 (his spouse is Catholic), has worked at Hee Man Hardware Limited (Hee
Peter Standtall, an African Nova Scotian who became a practicing Catholic in 1992 (his spouse is Catholic), has worked at Hee Man Hardware Limited ("Hee Man") for twenty years. Hee Man Hardware has a total of twelve employees and Peter is the only African Nova Scotia. All the other employees are "white Anglo-Saxon Protestants."
At the start of his employment in 1998 the owner and President of Hee Man, Joe Handy, sends Peter the following letter:
This is to confirm that you have been hired by my company, effective January 5, 1998, as an independent contractor at my store. Your title and job are assistant manager, pay is $17 an hour, and your hours of work are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. I will provide you with an office at the store premises. I reserve the right to change your responsibilities at any time."
Peter continues as Assistant Manager at the store until March of 2009, when he serves as temporary Manager until August of 2009. From August of 2009 until 2014 he works as a cashier at the store, and then returns to his duties as Assistant Manager in June of 2014. Because of financial problems the President of Hee Man, Joe Handy, tells Peter on February 12, 2022 that, effective immediately, it will not be necessary to have an assistant manager at the store, but Peter will work, once again, as a cashier at the same salary and benefits.
During his over twenty years of employment at Hee Man, Peter was referred to as "Pope Peter I" on three separate occasions by a fellow employee, Bart Blurt. On two other occasions, both in 2016, another fellow employee, Fred Dunce, announces at two staff meetings that someday "my bro Peter will make history by becoming the first black Pope." Peter does not complain to Joe about these incidents.
On February 16, 2022, an elderly customer calls Peter "boy" in front of Joe and Joe does and says nothing.
Peter is enraged by what happens to him on February 12 and 16, 2022, and writes to Joe threatening to pursue all relevant legal compensation and remedies.
However, he continues working at the store until March 12, 2022 when he is seriously injured and rendered a paraplegic because of a car accident
Unfortunately, the Hee Man store is very small, and with limited space hardware stock is stacked and stored everywhere. When Peter returns to work, on April 1, 2022, he cannot function or move in the store because of the width of his wheelchair. He also cannot properly reach the cash register because of the height of the counter at the store's exit. Joe tells Peter that the business does not have the money to modify the store, so Peter can move around or reach the cash register, and there is no other position available. Peter leaves the store and he and Joe have no further communications to date.
Peter comes to you, his lawyer, and wants to know if he has any options or claims against Hee Man.
Please discuss all possible issues and arguments in your answer.
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