Violence and Harassment should be top of mind for Canadian companies

The results of recent studies conducted by The Conversation Canada through the Institute for Work and Health were released, providing a much-needed reminder that violence and harassment in the workplace is still prevalent in Canada.

The main findings from the study revealed that women are 13% more likely to experience physical violence on the job than men. This takes into account the higher rate of sexual assault reported by women as well as the difference in industry or type of work that women and men participate in. For example, women experience higher rates of violence in the education and health-care sectors than men in the same fields.

Another key finding is that women are four times more likely to experience unwanted physical contact in the workplace than men, irrespective of industry or field of work. Also related to sexual harassment, the study also found that men are more likely to commit the offense than women.

It is imperative that employers recognize that violence and harassment is an unfortunate, but real threat in the workplace and necessary steps must be taken to reduce the risk of these behaviours in order to create a safe work environment. Employers are required to implement, communicate and enforce policies and programs designed to address workplace violence and harassment. Taking it a step further, the effectiveness of these policies and programs are strengthened through education and sharing of knowledge. Workers need to be encouraged to report incidents so they can be investigated thoroughly and remediated, but also need to be able to recognize signs and behaviours associated with workplace violence and harassment.

In Canada, February 27^th is recognized as Anti-Bullying Day. While there are many ways for individuals to support the cause and raise awareness, it is also important for organizations to actively participate as well. Act First Safety offers Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention training in accordance with Bill 168 and Bill 132 and is designed for any individual in a workplace setting to recognize the risks, prepare policies and implement effective programs that supports the policies. Conflict Resolution training is also available to companies who are looking to proactively create an environment that reduces the potential for conflict, how to effectively recognize and de-escalate situations in the workplace. Visit us at http://actfirstsafety.ca/training/instructor-led/workplace-violence-prevention-bill-168-2/ for more information.

[1] https://theconversation.com/women-four-times-more-likely-to-experience-sexual-assault-at-work-108380

[2] https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/topics/workplaceviolence.php

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