Prevention
Reminder: The information provided in the Employer Toolkit and in this training are suggested best practices, and are not intended to provide legal advice. If you are uncertain at any point, please check with a lawyer on whether this information is appropriate for your organization.
Prevention is the key to creating safe workplaces that are free of sexual harassment. Education and training are important methods for preventing inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Modelling behaviour that shows that sexual harassment is not tolerated in the workplace is the most important step to eliminating and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.
Training for Supervisors and Staff Administering the Policy
Supervisors and staff responsible for administering this policy will be trained on this policy within the first week of being hired and once every year from then on.
Training to Implement the Policy with all Staff
Staff shall be trained on this policy within the first week of being hired and once every year from then on.
Training for managers should focus on:
- Their obligations;
- Where to find the relevant forms and templates;
- How to conduct an investigation; and
- How to complete an investigation report.
Training for staff should focus on:
- What conduct is prohibited;
- What to do if the policy is breached;
- Who to reach out to if the policy is breached;
- Who to report to, or ask questions of; and
- How to find a copy of the policy.
It is important to have a schedule set to review the Workplace Sexual Harassment Policy to ensure it is up to date with current legislation and regulations. The sample WSH Policy suggests a three-year timeline for review of the policy. It is important to note that legislation and regulations change. It may be helpful to consult an employment lawyer when reviewing your policy.
Bystander training is an excellent way to educate all employees and managers and standardized online training available at Bystander Training may be helpful for employers to offer as the training can be done at the convenience of the individual and a certificate of completion is provided.
Email templates and communication best practices available in the Employer Best Practices Toolkit are helpful resources, providing supportive and encouraging language to remind employees that everyone has a role to play in preventing sexual harassment at work. The Toolkit also provides a risk assessment template to assess your workplace environment and identify areas where sexual harassment may be likely to occur.