BOOK YOUR FREE WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING SESSION >>

MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS.

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AS A PEI BUSINESS OWNER

It's time to be better positioned to prevent, respond to and remedy incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace.

On Prince Edward Island, workplace sexual harassment remains prevalent, poorly understood and commonly underreported.

Workplace sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome comments, actions, or behaviour of a sexual nature in the workplace, at work-related events or in correspondence. It can be visual, verbal, or physical.

EMPLOYER LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

As of July 1, 2020, Island employers MUST COMPLY with additional obligations respecting workplace harassment reflecting the changes to the PEI Occupational Health and Safety Act. These requirements are in addition to LEGAL OBLIGATIONS required by the PEI Human Rights Act.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

Employers must understand the requirements and create (or review and revise) their violence and harassment prevention plan and processes.

  • Employers are required to develop and implement a written policy to prevent and investigate workplace harassment and make a copy of this policy readily available for employees.
  • Employers are required to identify the source of workplace sexual harassment and make sure the harassment stops.
  • Employers are required to remedy the effects of sexual harassment when it does occur.
  • Employers are required to prevent or minimize future incidents of sexual harassment.
  • Employers are required to investigate ALL complaints of sexual harassment.
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THE COST OF DOING NOTHING

  • Paying out significant monetary damage amounts
  • Increased staff turnover; re-hiring, re-training, additional pressures on remaining staff
  • Absences from work (annual leave, sick leave, and unpaid leave)
  • Reduced productivity of all staff, including the person who experienced the harassment, witnesses and other co-workers
  • Costs for healthcare and lost time responding to complaints and internal investigations
  • Loss of respect & reputation as being an unsafe working environment
  • Plus the biggest cost – The overall impact on the person who was harassed

HOW TO START FROM THE TOP DOWN

  • Not sure how to best comply with the three different legislation acts covering Workplace Sexual Harassment?
  • Confused over what workplace sexual harassment actually looks and sounds like?
  • Need guidance about what to do if you see it? Or if you are experiencing it yourself?
  • Unsure how pronouns and identities may affect existing harassment policies?

To answer these and other questions, the first step in reducing incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace is being able to openly talk about the issue.

THAT'S WHERE THE SHIFT PROJECT AT THE PEI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COMES IN.

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Book your FREE CUSTOMIZABLE TRAINING SESSION with SHIFT to equip and empower your business in preventing workplace sexual harassment through clear policies and practices to develop a safe environment with an inclusive culture.

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  • Define sexual harassment in the workplace
  • Know everyone's rights and responsibilities
  • Create and maintain a safe and respectful workplace
  • Know what to include in your policy and procedures
  • Understand how to conduct a trauma-informed investigation
  • Better know how to respond when the harasser is a customer
  • Receive training on bystander intervention
  • Learn (and unlearn) unconscious bias
  • Learn how to restore a safe working environment after an incident of sexual harassment
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Examples of SHIFT's customizable in-person or virtual training sessions include:

  • THE BIG PICTURE (90 minutes+): An interactive workshop that reviews legal requirements and responsibilities when it comes to policy and procedures, explores the causes and impacts of workplace sexual harassment, and looks at prevention options and solutions using real life scenarios. For employees, supervisors and management.
  • LET'S TALK (60-90 minutes): An interactive workshop looking at workplace sexual harassment – the definition -what it sounds and looks like, legal responsibilities & roles in the workplace to address & prevent WSH, and an introduction to bystander intervention examples. For employees, supervisors and management.
  • PREVENTION- A Manager's Toolkit (30-45 minutes): An introduction to the causes, impact, and how to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. For supervisors and management.
  • TRAUMA-INFORMED INVESTIGATIONS (60-90 minutes): An introduction to setting up and executing trauma-informed investigation procedures. For HR and senior management.

As a PEI business owner, there are significant liability risks for businesses which do not prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace including having to pay damages to their employee(s) who were impacted by the harassment. It is your responsibility to know what is going on in your business.

MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS.

  • TAKE ACTION IN PREVENTING WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN YOUR WORKPLACE: BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE.
  • SHIFT MINDSETS, BEHAVIOURS AND SET A STANDARD FOR WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
  • CREATE A SAFE WORKPLACE FOR ALL.
CONTACT SHIFT TO BOOK A TRAINING SESSION FOR YOUR WORKPLACE.
sarah

Sarah Denman-Wood,
SHIFT Project Manager

EMAIL SARAH >> Call: 902-368-4180

Shift Project is an initiative of

pei human rights
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