Sexual Harassmen t i n t h e Wo r k p l a c e

Sexual harassment includes any unwanted attention of a sexual nature. It also includes harassment directed at women merely because they are female. If YOU find it objectionable, offensive or humiliating that is enough. Sexual harassment can include, but is not limited to degrading words, pictures or objects, physical contact, and/or sexual demands. The Ontario Human Rights Commission identifies three kinds of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment may occur when: Someone says or does things to you of a sexual nature which you do not welcome. This includes behaviour that a person should know you do not want or welcome. A person having authority or power over you makes sexual suggestions or demands that you do not want or welcome. A person having authority or power denies you something important, such as a promotion, punishes you or threatens to do something to you for refusing a sexual request.

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

Often times, a person who is being sexually harassed may also be harassed based on their ethno-cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics. Sexual harassment can consist of a single incident or several incidents over a period of time. Sexual harassment can lead to sexual assault (any unwelcome touch of a sexual nature). Sexual harassment is against the law. Sexual harassment in the workplace is an abuse of power in working relationships. Like other forms of sexual violence, sexual harassment both reflects and reinforces the inequality between men and women in our society. No employee is safe if sexual harassment is ignored! Organizations are responsible to address and investigate all complaints of sexual harassment.

MYTHS
OF

AND REALITIES SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Myth: Sexual harassment and office romances or flirting are the same thing. Fact: Flirting is mutual and welcomed, sexual harassment is not. People who are being sexually harassed find it demeaning and want it to stop. Myth: Sexual harassment is not very common. Fact: 90% of all women working outside of the home will experience sexual harassment at some point in their working lives. 49% of women in the workforce have experienced at least one type of unwanted sexual attention (Canadian Human Rights Commission. Unwanted Sexual Attention and Sexual Harassment: Results of A Survey of Canadians. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1983, p. 5). Myth: Women who stay in a job where they are being sexually harassed really enjoy it. Fact: Women do not enjoy being harassed. Limited access to resources often make it difficult to leave their jobs or to find new employment.

WHO

Although men experience V I C T I M S O F S E X U A L sexual harassment, the vast majority of workers who are HARASSMENT? sexually harassed are women. Women who work in an environment with more men than women are at greater risk of being sexually harassed. Generally, women who are sexually harassed have less power within their work environment than their abuser.
ARE THE

WHO COMMITS SEXUAL HARASSMENT? The majority of people who commit sexual harassment are men (Canadian Human Rights Commission. Harassment Casebook: Summaries of Selected Harassment Cases. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1991. See also the Ontario and Canadian Human Rights Commissions Annual Reports.). The people who commit sexual harassment are usually in a position of power over the victim, however, this is not always the case. Co-workers may also sexually harass their peers. WHERE DOES SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAPPEN? Sexual harassment in the workplace includes any sexually harassing behaviour anywhere that work-related meetings or events take place or in any other work-related context.

Sexual harassment can take place at: offices, factories, schools, stores, work sites, washrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms, vehicles used for business, to and from work, on business trips, holiday parties and social gatherings. The bottom line is that Y O U have the right to a safe work environment!! W HAT A R E T H E E FFECTS O F S E X U A L H ARASSMENT ? The effects of sexual harassment are as individual and unique as the people who experience it. They could include the following: Emotional Effects: anxiety, depression, humiliation, degradation, confusion, embarrassment, fear, intimidation, powerlessness, hopelessness, self-blame, undue stress, anger, loss of self confidence, shame, suicidal thoughts, inability to concentrate, feeling unsafe, insecure, isolated and alienated at work. Physical Effects: illness, ulcers, nausea, trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time, eating difficulties, dependence on alcohol and other drugs, headaches, nightmares, fatigue, lack of energy, other physical pains.

Costs to Employers: lawsuits, damaged public image, a loss in productivity, loss in profit, greater absenteeism, health and safety risks, low employee morale. Sexual harassment creates a hostile and poisoned workplace environment. It also affects the health and safety of employees. Preventing sexual harassment is not just the right thing to do, it is the employers legal responsibility to prevent and stop sexual harassment and it is good business practice to ensure employees have a safe and respectful work environment. WHAT
TO

DO IF IT HAPPENS

TO

YOU:

Always remember that sexual harassment is not your fault! Place the responsibility on the harasser! Get support and talk to someone you trust. Call the Assaulted Womens Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 to speak to a trained counselor who can provide support and information.

Document every incident of sexual harassment you experience such as the date, time and description of what happened. This documentation is helpful if you choose to file a complaint or speak to your employer. Be informed. Obtain a copy of your organizations sexual harassment policy. If your workplace does not have a sexual harassment policy, go to a person in authority and inform them. If the harassment continues, or nothing is done about it, go to the next person in authority. You are not required to confront the harasser, especially if it is your supervisor. If possible, let the harasser know that their behaviour is not acceptable to you. Protect yourself by telling more than one person, and provide them with documentation of the incidents. If your company has a union, find out if there is a womens committee that deals with the issue and seek support from them.

Keep copies of all documents you submit and/or receive. You may contact the Ontario Human Rights Commission within six months of the last incident of sexual harassment and file a written complaint. Ask for a written response to your complaint. This can be a lengthy process. Remember that whatever decision you make, seek support from others. Remember that you are not alone. Call your nearest Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis or Sexual Assault Treatment/Care Centre for information and support. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Educate yourself on the issues of sexual harassment. If someone discloses they are being sexually harassed, believe them. Respect whatever choices the person makes.

Provide resources and information so your friend/co-worker can make informed decisions. Advise your company supervisor of any harassment you see on the job. See it as our problem not an individuals problem. Advocate for sexual harassment to be recognized as an occupational hazard in the Ontario Health and Safety Act. Place a written sexual harassment policy at the top of the agenda at your union and staff meetings. Request that your company develop clear policies and procedures concerning sexual harassment. HOW
FROM TO

PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAPPENING IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Develop clear sexual harassment policies and procedures.

Make it accessible to all employees. Enforce your corporate policy. Inform all staff, including managers, of their responsibility to provide a safe workplace free of harassment. Make any discriminatory comments or jokes unacceptable in the workplace. Do not allow any offensive posters, pin-ups, or other graffiti in the workplace. Make sure that individuals who break the sexual harassment policy are held accountable for their behaviour. Address the issue of sexual harassment with your union. Press unions to provide adequate procedures when dealing with grievances.

Employees should lead by example and not engage in sexual harassment. Take responsibility to address the behaviour of those who harass employees. You can file a claim under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Talk to a lawyer who can help you make a claim under this Act. The Human Rights Commission You can use human rights laws to help stop harassment. In Ontario, human rights are protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code and by the Canadian Human Rights Act. You are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act if you work for: the Federal Government; the CBC; a Radio Station; a Bank; a telecommunications company.

Complaints to do with any of these workplaces go to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. All other workers in Ontario are protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code and complaints should go directly to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Canadian Human Rights Commission: 416-973-5527 or 1-800-999-6899 TTY: 1-888-643-3304 www.chrc-ccdp.ca email: info.com@chrc-ccdp.ca Ontario Human Rights Commission: 416-326-9611 or 1-800-397-9080 TTY: 1-800-308-5561 www.ohrc.on.ca e-mail: info@ohrc.on.ca

RESOURCES

Call 911 or your local police immediately if you are in danger.

THE ASSAULTED 1-866-863-0511 1-866-863-7868 416-863-0511

W O M E N ' S H E L P L I N E (24 (toll-free) (TTY) (Toronto)

HOURS)

SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE CRISIS CENTRES Go to www.sacha.on.ca/other.htm or look in your local telephone book. SEXUAL ASSAULT TREATMENT/CARE CENTRES Go to www.satcontario.com/centres/centres.shtml/ or look in your local telephone book. WOMEN'S SHELTERS Go to www.shelternet.ca or look in your local telephone book.

REPRINTED

WITH THE

SUPPORT

OF THE

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT

The views expressed herein are those of The Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel and do not necessarily reflect those of the government of Ontario. Reprinted with the permission of: The Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel P .O. Box 2311, Square One Post Office, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 3C8 24 Hour Crisis Line: (905) 273-9442 Business Line: (905) 273-3337
Copies can be obtained from:
Metropolitain Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children Phone: 416-392-3135 Toll Free: 1-877-558-5570 Fax: 416-392-3136 E-mail: info@metrac.org www.metrac.org | www.owjn.org Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes Telephone: 613-241-8433 Tlcp: 613-241-8435 aocvf@francofemmes.org www.francofemmes.org/aocvf