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2. Employment Standards >
3. Federal Labour Standards

Sexual Harassment

Everyone is entitled to protection from sexual harassment while on the job.

The Canada Labour Code defines sexual harassment as any:

• conduct
• comment
• gesture
• contact of a sexual nature

likely to cause offence or humiliation or that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived as placing a condition of a sexual nature on employment or on any opportunity for training or promotion.

Employers must make every reasonable effort to ensure that no employee is subjected to sexual harassment, and must issue a relevant policy containing at least the following items:

• a definition of sexual harassment much the same as the one in the Code
• a statement explaining how sexual harassment complaints can be brought to the attention of the employer
• a statement informing employees of their right to make a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
• statements to the effect that:
   
  • every employee is entitled to employment free of sexual harassment
  • the employer will make every reasonable effort to ensure that no employee is subjected to sexual harassment
  • the employer will discipline anyone under their direction who subjects any employee to sexual harassment
  • the employer will not disclose the name of the complainant or the circumstances related to the complaint to anyone unless disclosure is necessary for the purposes of investigating the complaint or taking disciplinary measures in relation to the complaint

Employers must keep their sexual harassment policy posted prominently in the workplace.

See Pamphlet #12 - Sexual Harassment for more information.

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Date Modified:

2011-08-09