Workplace Sexual Harrasment

Sexual Harassmen t
in the Workplace

Sexual harassment
includes any unwanted
attention of a sexual
nature. It also includes harassment directed at women merely
because they are female. If YOUfind it objectionable, offen-
sive 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.WHATISSEXUAL
HARASSMENT?

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, sexu-
al 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.

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 demean-
ing 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 sexu-
ally 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.MYTHSANDREALITIES
OFSEXUALHARASSMENT

Although men experience
sexual harassment, the vast
majority of workers who are
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.
WHOCOMMITSSEXUALHARASSMENT?
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’ AnnualReports.). 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.
WHEREDOESSEXUALHARASSMENTHAPPEN?
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.WHOARETHEVICTIMSOFSEXUALHARASSMENT?

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 busi-
ness trips, holiday parties and social gatherings.
The bottom line is that YOUhave the right to a safe work
environment!!
WHATARETHEEFFECTSOFSEXUALHARASSMENT?
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, embar-
rassment, fear, intimidation, powerlessness,
hopelessness, self-blame, undue stress,
anger, loss of self confidence, shame, suici-
dal 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 employer’s legal responsibility to prevent and stop
sexual harassment and it is good business practice to ensure
employees have a safe and respectful work environment.
WHATTODOIFITHAPPENSTOYOU:
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 Women’s Helpline
at 1-866-863-0511 to speak to a
trained counselor who can provide
support and information.

Document every incident of sexual harass-
ment 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 organi-
zation’s sexual harassment policy.
If your workplace does not have a sexual
harassment policy, go to a person in author-
ity 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