Sexual Harassmen t

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

WHAT IS SEXUAL
HARASSMENT?

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.

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

PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT

HAPPENING IN YOUR WORKPLACE

TO

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

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

Call 911 or your local

police immediately if you
are in danger.

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