Responses to Harassment

These include:

• Telling the person that the behaviour is unwelcome, and they want it to stop, verbally and/or in writing. However, workers do not need to do this and may not do this if it is not safe and appropriate.
• Documenting the incident. A worker can decide to document what has happened and keep copies of any offensive material. If they have done this it will help the employer if there is an investigation but workers dealing with harassment in the moment may not think of this.
• Talking to a trusted friend, relative or co-worker.
• Using community supports and resources.
• Talking to the person about it in a safe environment with another neutral party present.
• Asking the employer to provide education about workplace harassment to everyone in the workplace.
• Making a complaint under the workplace’s Harassment Prevention Policy.
• Asking Occupational Health and Safety for help.
• Making a Human Rights complaint.
• Calling the police.
• Talking to the union.
• Consulting a lawyer.

Empowering bystanders to act, when it is safe and appropriate, is an important part of creating a harassment-free workplace.

Witnesses can:

• Decide if it is safe and appropriate to intervene while making sure that they do not themselves become a target.
• If safe and appropriate, tell the harasser directly and firmly that their behaviour is unacceptable. For example, by saying ‘I did not find that funny’ or ‘That is not ok.’
• Distract if they cannot intervene. For example, by asking the person being harassed an unrelated question.
• Find help from another person in the workplace to assist the person.
• Talk to the person who has been harassed and offer support. This can be done right away. A witness can also decide to wait and get information and advice about how to proceed.
• Document what they saw and heard. This could also include preserving relevant information by doing things like taking screen shots of texts, printing out emails, keeping photos, videos and copies of other offensive materials.
• Follow up with the person being harassed and offer to report what they saw.