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Overview of Workplace Bullying and Harassment (view source)
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{{Workplace Bullying and Harassment TOC}} | {{Workplace Bullying and Harassment TOC}} | ||
This section focuses on why it is important to address workplace bullying and harassment and how it is defined. Examples of workplace bullying and harassment are also provided. | This section focuses on why it is important to address workplace bullying and harassment and how it is defined. Examples of workplace bullying and harassment are also provided. | ||
==Why is it important?== | ==Why is it important?== | ||
As a society, we recognize that every employee has the right to work in a safe, respectful workplace. Bullying and harassment are health and safety issues. In British Columbia, our right to health and safety in the workplace is protected by a law called the Workers Compensation Act. The government gives responsibility to implement the act to WorkSafeBC. | As a society, we recognize that every employee has the right to work in a safe, respectful workplace. Bullying and harassment are health and safety issues. In British Columbia, our right to health and safety in the workplace is protected by a law called the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84g2 Workers Compensation Act]''. The government gives responsibility to implement the act to WorkSafeBC. | ||
==What is workplace bullying and harassment?== | ==What is workplace bullying and harassment?== | ||
WorkSafeBC defines workplace bullying and harassment as | WorkSafeBC defines workplace bullying and harassment as "any inappropriate conduct or comment by a person towards a worker that the person knew or reasonably should have known would cause that worker to be humiliated or intimidated." | ||
Workplace bullying and harassment can happen to anyone, at any workplace. The workplace can be large or small, unionized or non-unionized. The workplace can be in the public sector, the private sector or the not-for-profit sector. | Workplace bullying and harassment can happen to anyone, at any workplace. The workplace can be large or small, unionized or non-unionized. The workplace can be in the public sector, the private sector or the not-for-profit sector. | ||
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It is not workplace bullying or harassment when an employer or supervisor: | It is not workplace bullying or harassment when an employer or supervisor: | ||
* expresses differences of opinion | * expresses differences of opinion, | ||
* offers constructive feedback or advice about work-related behaviour | * offers constructive feedback or advice about work-related behaviour, | ||
* takes reasonable action to manage a worker’s performance or to assign work | * takes reasonable action to manage a worker’s performance or to assign work, or | ||
* takes reasonable disciplinary action. | * takes reasonable disciplinary action. | ||
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If someone is bullying and or harassing you, they might use one or more of these behaviours: | If someone is bullying and or harassing you, they might use one or more of these behaviours: | ||
* yells at you, insults you, or use other ways to make you afraid | * yells at you, insults you, or use other ways to make you afraid, | ||
* spreads negative and untrue gossip about you | * spreads negative and untrue gossip about you, | ||
* makes jokes that are offensive | * makes jokes that are offensive, | ||
* refuses to speak to you | * refuses to speak to you, | ||
* criticizes you constantly | * criticizes you constantly, | ||
* makes you do something humiliating | * makes you do something humiliating, | ||
* withholds necessary information or deliberately gives you the wrong information | * withholds necessary information or deliberately gives you the wrong information, | ||
* interferes with your personal belongings or work equipment | * interferes with your personal belongings or work equipment, | ||
* prevents you from doing your work properly | * prevents you from doing your work properly, or | ||
* gives you deadlines that are impossible to meet. | * gives you deadlines that are impossible to meet. | ||
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 | ==What protections do BC workers have against bullying and harassment?== | ||
In | In British Columbia 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: | workplace bullying and harassment: | ||
* The Workers Compensation Act is the law that is meant to protect workers in | * The ''Workers Compensation Act'' is the law that is meant to protect workers in BC. 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. | * 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 | * 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 BC 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. | * 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?== | ==When does the bullying and harassment becomes a crime?== | ||
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==Is workplace bullying and harassment the same as discrimination?== | ==Is workplace bullying and harassment the same as discrimination?== | ||
Some bullying and harassment behaviours may also be considered discrimination under the | Some bullying and harassment behaviours may also be considered discrimination under the BC ''[http://canlii.ca/t/843q Human Rights Code]'' — such as when the behaviour involves racial or sexual discrimination towards a worker. | ||
The | The BC ''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: | For more information contact the BC Human Rights Tribunal at: | ||
1170 - 605 Robson Street | :1170 - 605 Robson Street | ||
Vancouver, | :Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3 | ||
Phone: 604 | :Phone: 604-775-2000 | ||
Fax: 604 | :Fax: 604-775-2020 | ||
TTY: 604 | :TTY: 604-775-2021 | ||
Toll free in | :Toll-free in BC: 1-888-440-8844 | ||
:Email: BCHumanRightsTribunal@gov.bc.ca | |||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | ||
{{Workplace Bullying and Harassment | {{Workplace Bullying and Harassment Navbox}} | ||
{{Creative Commons for PLS | {{Creative Commons for PLS | ||
|title = Workplace Bullying and Harassment | |title = Workplace Bullying and Harassment | ||
|author = | |author = | ||
}} | }} | ||