In Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the rights and duties for the health and safety of all parties in the workplace. It is important for employers to address any unwanted behaviours early to minimize the potential for workplace harassment to turn into workplace violence. The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets minimum standards and requirements that employers must abide by when dealing with violence and harassment in the workplace. Employers are obligated to:
- have a workplace harassment policy in place, and review it as necessary (at least annually);
- have a workplace harassment program or policy that outlines: how to make a complaint or report an incident of workplace harassment and how those complaints/incidents will be investigated and handled;
- provide information and instruction to workers about the workplace harassment policies and programs in place;
- ensure investigations are conducted following incidents or complaints of workplace harassment; and
- inform the complainant worker and the alleged harasser of the results of the investigation in writing and any further actions that will need to be taken.
If you believe you have been harassed at work and your employer did not fulfil their duties according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, contact Toronto employment lawyers Sultan Lawyers at 416-214-5111 or via email at mlahert@sultanlawyers.com.