Sexual assault charges in Ontario can seriously affect your career — even if you are never convicted. From reputational harm to job loss, the consequences can be immediate and long-term. Here's what you need to know and how a skilled legal defence can make a difference.
Key Takeaways
You might be tempted to think that getting charged with sexual assault has a limited impact on one’s career, based on the long-running trial of Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson. Arrested in September 2022 on two counts of sexual assault, the councillor remains in office, though he did step down from his roles as deputy mayor and on the city’s economic development committee. Upon his arrest, Thompson’s lawyer said the councillor “vehemently denies the charges,” which she said were on the “lower end” of the sexual assault spectrum. Thompson was arrested two weeks before municipal elections, yet voters handily elected him to a sixth term.
Some politicians seem to suffer limited consequences when accused of sexual offences, as evidenced by Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Ted Kennedy, and others. It remains to be seen whether salacious testimony about Thompson’s two apparently not-so-lower-end-of-spectrum alleged sexual assaults will derail his political career. Likewise, if he is ultimately convicted. Ontario provincial and Toronto municipal laws don’t automatically disqualify a councillor from holding office unless sentenced to prison, which would leave his political future up to voters.
We mere mortals will not likely skate if charged with sexual assault. If Ontario Police charge you with sexual assault, it can have a significant impact on your career, conviction or not.
If you are arrested and charged with sexual assault in Ontario, can you lose your job?
Yes — even without a conviction.
“Many people convicted of sexual assault in the GTA lose their jobs and suffer long-term impediments in their careers,” says criminal defence lawyer Jeff Mass , managing partner of the Greater Toronto Area’s Mass Tsang law firm. “And sexual assault charges alone can derail a person’s career, depending on the field of work, nature of the job, case visibility, and employer’s discretion.”
Mass Tsang managing partner Robbie Tsang adds, “Some of our sexual assault clients have been suspended from their jobs with and without pay pending case resolution. However, even if the charges are dropped, or the case ultimately results in an acquittal, they face potential on-the-job stigmatization that can limit promotions, stifle opportunities, and cause trust issues with co-workers.”
The impact sexual assault charges can have on your employment depends on numerous factors. The first consideration about the charges is the extent to which they may become visibly public. If your employer doesn’t know you’ve been arrested for sexual assault, they have no cause to take any related action. Many low-level sexual assault cases in the Greater Toronto Area never make the news. Therefore, as the case makes its way through the court, there’s little reason anyone but you, the victim(s), the arresting officer(s), court officials, and your GTA sexual assault defence lawyer should know about it. That said, some employers have policies requiring employees to self-report criminal arrests and other misconduct, leaving it up to you whether to risk breaking policy. Additionally, if the victim has any connection to your company or co-workers, the alleged sexual assault details could be exposed.
The next considerations about your charges in relation to current employment are the employer and its management. Canadian private employers can terminate your employment for almost any reason, absent protected human rights issues like race or disability, provided they give notice and/or severance. The likelihood of losing your job over the charges could depend on your relationship with your higher-ups. Depending on this and the visibility of the case, an employer might terminate your employment, suspend you with or without pay pending resolution, or do nothing until the case concludes.
The type of job you hold will also play a role in the employer’s decision. If you work in a regulated or licensed field like law, medicine, education, or accounting, the arrest alone may trigger disciplinary action, including suspension or termination, while a conviction will. If you hold a government — Toronto politicians excluded — or security-related job, a sexual assault arrest will almost always lead to employment repercussions. These jobs typically require a high level of trust and a clear record, and an arrest puts these in immediate jeopardy. Regardless of the eventual outcome in court, the arrest alone will almost certainly trigger an internal investigation, suspension, termination, or other disciplinary action.
Whether your employer finds out depends on the public visibility of the case . Many low-level sexual assault charges don’t make the news. But some employers have internal policies requiring self-reporting of criminal charges.
If your workplace becomes aware, your employer may:
| Factor | Impact on Employment |
|---|---|
| High-visibility case | Likely employer action (suspension, firing) |
| Self-reporting required by policy | Must disclose charges; employer decides next steps |
| Victim connected to employer | Internal exposure likely; increases risk of termination |
| Private low-level case | Lower immediate risk unless discovered |
The type of job you hold plays a major role in how your employer responds.
| Employment Type | Likely Consequence of Charge |
|---|---|
| Regulated/licensed profession (e.g., teacher, doctor, lawyer) | Disciplinary action or suspension — often immediate |
| Government/security jobs | Likely termination or indefinite suspension |
| Private sector (non-regulated roles) | Varies based on company policy, manager discretion |
As Jeff Mass notes, “Even before a case goes to trial, regulated professions are often subject to separate disciplinary processes that can independently affect a person's ability to work.”
Even if your employer doesn’t terminate or suspend your employment, a sexual assault charge can still impact your job, especially if it becomes common knowledge at work. If the word gets out about it at work, the unproven allegations can cause work colleagues and clients to shun you to avoid association. This can cause potential impediments to your workflow and add a measure of toxicity to the workplace. Additionally, even if you’re eventually exonerated, the charges against can engender inherent biases that co-workers, clients, and management may continue to hold against you. While perhaps unjustified, this ongoing stigma can hinder job performance, opportunities, promotions, and raises.
Even if you're not formally penalized by your employer, the fallout can still be significant.
Robbie Tsang explains: “Clients have told us that once word spreads about charges, colleagues may distance themselves. It impacts morale, workflow, and trust — and that’s before a verdict is even reached.”
| Secondary Impact | Result |
|---|---|
| Workplace gossip or disclosure | Reputation damage, strained coworker relationships |
| Client avoidance | Loss of business, internal scrutiny |
| Promotion/career progression hindered | Long-term career stagnation despite case outcome |
| Post-acquittal stigma | Lingering biases from colleagues or management |
If convicted, sexual assault charges can devastate your long-term employment prospects :
| Post-Conviction Impact | Effect on Career |
|---|---|
| Criminal record | Reduced employability in regulated sectors |
| Background checks | Ineligibility for many jobs requiring clean records |
| Public court records | Long-term reputation damage |
| Job references & career advancement | Significantly hindered or halted |
Being charged with sexual assault does not automatically mean you will be convicted — but you need to act quickly. Early legal intervention is key.
“A skilled sexual assault defence lawyer can often reduce charges, secure a dismissal, or even achieve an acquittal,” says Jeff Mass . “Our priority is not just protecting your legal rights, but preserving your future.”
| Legal Strategy | Possible Outcome |
|---|---|
| Challenge evidence | Charges dropped or reduced |
| Early negotiation with Crown | Favorable plea terms or dismissal |
| Mitigate public exposure | Protect career reputation |
| Pre-trial resolutions | Avoid conviction and consequences |
No matter what happens employment-wise with a sexual assault arrest, if you’re ultimately convicted, the likelihood of job termination significantly increases no matter what field of work. Additionally, the criminal record that comes with the conviction will severely limit your future job-hunting prospects and career trajectory efforts.
To avoid such an outcome, not to mention the penalties a judge might hand down, secure the services of a highly competent sexual assault criminal defence lawyer, like those with the Greater Toronto Area’s Mass Tsang. With over 30 years of combined experience, our criminal defence lawyers have successfully defended 100s of clients against sexual assault charges in the GTA. Contact us for a free initial consultation to learn how we can strategize an effective defence against your charges.
