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Difference between revisions of "Overview of Workplace Bullying and Harassment"
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Overview of Workplace Bullying and Harassment (view source)
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The bully may use these behaviours in person, by phone or online. When it happens online, it is called cyber-bullying. | The bully may use these behaviours in person, by phone or online. When it happens online, it is called cyber-bullying. | ||
==What protections do B.C. workers have against bullying and harassment?== | |||
In B.C. there are protections against workplace bullying and harassment. It is important that every worker, manager, and supervisor is aware of the law and policies on | |||
workplace bullying and harassment: | |||
* The Workers Compensation Act is the law that is meant to protect workers in B.C. Recent changes to the law address workplace bullying and harassment. | |||
* WorkSafeBC is the body that implements this law. It makes policies to protect the health and safety of workers. These policies include policies about workplace bullying and harassment. | |||
* Almost all employers in British Columbia must register for insurance coverage with WorkSafeBC to protect their workers. This means that these changes apply to almost everyone in B.C. who has a job. | |||
* The changes to the Workers Compensation Act also mean that people who are bullied or harassed in the workplace may be able to make a claim for compensation under that law. | |||
==When does the bullying and harassment becomes a crime?== | |||
Some bullying and harassment may be a crime. It is criminal behaviours when the bully uses physical force, or threatens to use it and a worker has reason to believe his or her safety is at risk. | |||
The following actions are considered crimes: | |||
* If someone at the workplace hits you or threatens to hit you and you believe they could, it is the crime of assault. | |||
* If someone forces you to have sex without your consent, it is the crime of sexual assault. | |||
* If someone threatens you, or constantly watches, follows or contacts you in a way that makes you fear for your safety. | |||
If anyone commits any of these crimes at the workplace, report the incident to your supervisor or manager, and call the police. | |||
==Is workplace bullying and harassment the same as discrimination?== | |||
Some bullying and harassment behaviours may also be considered discrimination under the B.C. Human Rights Code — such as when the behaviour involves racial or sexual discrimination towards a worker. | |||
The B.C. Human Rights Code protects workers from unlawful discrimination. Discrimination means that someone treats you differently or worse than others because of their prejudice about the group you belong to. For example, the person may target you because of your race, ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. | |||
For more information contact the BC Human Rights Tribunal at: | |||
1170 - 605 Robson Street | |||
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5J3 | |||
Phone: 604.775.2000 | |||
Fax: 604.775.2020 | |||
TTY: 604.775.2021 | |||
Toll free in B.C.: 1.888.440.8844 | |||
email: BCHumanRightsTribunal@gov.bc.ca | |||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | ||
