殡仪馆丑闻,上班第一天性骚扰女实习生
Embalmer Kevin Rostek sexually harassed me, claims B.C. funeral home apprentice Christina Bissonette says embalmer exposed himself on first day of apprenticeship at Kearney Funeral Services
By Natalie Clancy, Jun 11, 2015 2:00 AM
A 23-year-old apprentice is suing Kearney Funeral Servicesand embalmer Kevin Rostek, claiming he stripped naked in front of her, made unwanted sexual advances and confined her on her first day on the job at a B.C. morgue last June.
Christina Bissonette had just met Rostek, 46, who had been assigned to supervise her apprenticeship to become an embalmer in New Westminster, when the incidents began, she says.
"He said we needed to change so we could go into the morgue and he took his clothes off in front of me," said Bissonette, holding back tears in an interview with CBC News.
"It wasn't like it was a mistake, his underwear didn't fall down by mistake," says the student, who claims Rostek then put on scrubs and ordered her to change clothing in front of him in his office, before beginning an embalming.
'Creepy' embalmer 'scared' apprentice
Bissonette describes Rostek as twice her size and "creepy."

Kearney Funeral Services, Columbia Bowell Chapel in New Westminister where embalming is done for all three Kearney locations. (cbc)
"I was just scared 'cause I didn't know what was going to happen...I just turned around and tried to hide behind a casket that was in the room," she said.
Bissonette says after a day of learning the funeral business, Rostek barged into the office where she was changing to go home.
"He looked at my underwear and said, 'Oh those are cute, I like your pink thong and I have one too,'" said Bissonette.
She says she was shocked to see Rostek's thong for herself, claiming he exposed himself again on her second and last day at the morgue.
"We were in his office and he closed the door and he took his pants off to show me that he was wearing a pink thong that was very small and not covering anything," says Bissonette.
Rostek denies 'spurious allegations'
Bissonette eventually complained to Kearney Funeral Services, and claims in her lawsuit that the family-owned company promised to fire Rostek if her complaint was substantiated by a lawyer hired to investigate.
The lawsuit says the investigation confirmed her allegations and Bissonette received a written apology from Rostek in January 2015, saying "I'm really sorry for my conduct.. I feel embarrassed and ashamed."

Kearney Funeral Services Owned by Crean Family since 1908: From left Trevor, Tom, Mike and Ryan Crean. (Kearney Funeral Home: Google Plus)
But Rostek remained employed, prompting Bissonette to file her Notice of Civil Claim against Rostek, his employer, and the lawyer hired to investigate in B.C. Supreme Court in May.
In a statement to CBC News issued through his lawyer, Rostek denies what he calls "numerous spurious allegations" in Bissonette's lawsuit.
"Mr. Rostek intends to vigorously oppose the claim that has been advanced by Ms. Bissonette," said his lawyer, Hollis Bromley.

Lawyer Ashley Syer says Kearney Funeral Services did not properly investigate her client's sexual harassment complaint. (cbc)
Ashley Syer, an employment lawyer representing Bisonette, says Bissonette is arguing constructive dismissal because Rostek is still on the job and she is out of work.
"She's lost the apprenticeship, she's lost her job, she's lost her place in that educational program, she and now she's left traumatised," said Syer.
Bisonette never received a report from the investigation, and Kearney Funeral Services failed to properly investigate Bisonette's complaint and provide a safe working environment for her, says Syer.
Company calls behavior 'unwelcome'
Mike Crean, president of Kearney Funeral Services, says the company did take steps to try to resolve the situation.
"It was concluded that some unwelcome conduct had occurred and that Mr. Rostek's practice of changing into his work clothes in his office had to change," said Crean, in a statement sent to CBC News.

Michael Crean, President Kearney Funeral Services says company "took all reasonable steps to alleviate" sexual harassment complaint. (LinkedIn)
He says the incident was reported toWorkSafeBC and he believes that "appropriate remedial steps could be taken to address the situation...without anyone losing their job."
But Crean claims Bisonette would not co-operate, instead insisting she have a lawyer with her to discuss the investigation.
Bissonette says she only learned later there was a staff change room in the basement of the morgue.
"Rather than listening to the company's proposed assurances, and Mr. Rostek's apology, and returning to work with these assurances, Ms. Bissonette insisted that Mr. Rostek's employment be terminated," said Crean, who claims Bissonette resigned.
Alleged harasser still at work
But Bissonette says she did not quit and her lawyer says expecting her to return to work as Rostek's apprentice, even with assurances they would never be alone, is not acceptable.
"How can she be asked as a 23-year-old woman, who has been sexually harassed, to continue working with her harasser? That is not a safe work environment," said Sayer.
None of Bissonette's allegations have been proven in court. The defendants have 21 days to file a response to the claim.