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Among the allegations are claims that coworkers circulated social media posts calling to “kill all Zionists.”
By United with Israel Staff
A prominent Canadian technology company is facing allegations that a Jewish employee was subjected to months of antisemitic harassment following the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, culminating in what she claims was her wrongful termination.
Amanda Rafael, a former sales employee at Montreal-based Lightspeed Commerce, has filed a complaint before Quebec’s labor tribunal alleging that colleagues targeted her because she is Jewish and openly supportive of Israel. The case stems from events that Rafael says began almost immediately after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to the complaint, Rafael experienced a dramatic shift in workplace relations after coworkers learned of her pro-Israel views and previous ties to Israel. She alleges that colleagues sent antisemitic images and hostile messages, excluded her from sales opportunities, and openly expressed anti-Zionist sentiments that created a toxic work environment.
Among the allegations are claims that coworkers circulated social media posts calling to “kill all Zionists,” referred to her as a “f—ing Zionist,” and shared content praising Adolf Hitler. Rafael also alleges that while employees were permitted to display Palestinian flags on profiles and accounts, she was asked to remove an Israeli flag from hers.
The 34-year-old says the harassment became so severe that she was forced to take medical leave after suffering significant emotional distress.
“You kind of feel like you’re drowning,” Rafael told Canada’s National Post. “Lonely, confused, hurt, isolated.”
Rafael alleges the hostility also affected her ability to perform her job, claiming she was cut off from valuable sales leads and later discovered colleagues discussing plans to take over her client accounts.
Her complaint was investigated by Quebec’s labor standards authority and has now been referred to the province’s labor tribunal for a hearing. No hearing date has yet been scheduled.
Lightspeed, a publicly traded e-commerce and payments company with operations in more than 100 countries, has denied wrongdoing and is contesting the allegations. In a statement, the company said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination, harassment, hate speech, and antisemitism and is committed to providing a safe workplace environment.
According to documents filed in the case, company officials told investigators that an internal review did not support a finding of psychological harassment. Management reportedly acknowledged tensions in the workplace following October 7 but maintained that appropriate steps were taken to address concerns and that some of the disputed content was shared through employees’ private accounts rather than company channels.
Rafael’s attorney, Montreal lawyer Michael Hollander, praised his client for coming forward, while the Lawfare Project, which is supporting the case, said the allegations raise serious questions about how Jewish employees are treated in professional environments amid rising antisemitism following the October 7 attacks.
The case comes as Jewish advocacy groups in Canada, the United States, and Europe continue to report a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas-led massacre and the ensuing war in Gaza. Rafael says she hopes her complaint will encourage others facing similar treatment to speak out.
“No one should be subjected to this kind of treatment at work for being Jewish,” she said.
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