Definition Of Harassment In The Workplace Ontario
Essentially the definition of harassment means that more than one act or event is needed in order to constitute harassment and that taken individually this act or event need not constitute harassment.
Definition of harassment in the workplace ontario. It is important to examine what this definition entails both on the part of employees and employers seeking to implement and maintain anti harassment polices that are legally required in every workplace under the occupational health and safety act in ontario. 344 slater street 8th floor ottawa ontario k1a 1e1. In ontario new legislation called bill 168 has substantially strengthened the laws relating to harassment and bullying in the workplace. It is the repetition that generates the harassment.
Everyone should be able to work in a safe and healthy workplace. More specifically harassment is normally a series of incidents but can be one severe incident which has a lasting impact on the individual. Please read the code of practice on the ontario ministry of labour s website. With this bill the definition of workplace harassment was expanded to include a much wider range of behaviour.
What is workplace harassment. Recently matters of workplace harassment have gained interest among practitioners and researchers as it is becoming one of the most sensitive areas of effective workplace management because a significant source of work stress is associated with aggressive behaviors at workplace. Breaking down the definition of workplace harassment. As of september 8 2016 the ontario ministry of labour mol amended the occupational health safety act to include legislation about sexual harassment in the workplace.
Workplace harassment occurs when a person engages in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace which is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. The occupational health and safety act sets out roles and responsibilities of workplace parties with respect to workplace violence and workplace harassment including developing and implementing policies and programs and providing information and instruction on these. Workplace harassment occurs when a person is put down shown hostility or the recipient of unwanted conduct from a fellow employee or supervisor. Ontario enacts strong anti harassment and anti bullying legislation.
Workplace harassment is never okay. What is workplace harassment. An employer has specific obligations under ontario s occupational health and safety act ohsa to deal with workplace harassment. Noun harassment that occurs within the workplace in violation of federal law.