Contents of a Harassment Prevention Policy

The policy must have a definition of harassment that includes the definitions used in The Saskatchewan Employment Act . The policy can expand on these definitions but must at a minimum cover any action that would be harassment under the Act.

The policy must state that workers have a right to harassment-free workplaces.

The Harassment Prevention Policy must include the employer's commitment to...

• making all reasonable efforts to prevent harassment
• taking corrective action when there has been harassment

The specific corrective action that will be taken does not need to be detailed but a list of the types of consequences that can be imposed can help to set expectations about what will happen.

Complaint process information must be provided, including:

• How to make a complaint.
• A statement that the employer will not disclose the names of the person complaining about harassment or the alleged harasser unless it is needed to investigate, take corrective action or is required by law.
• Information about how results of an investigation will be communicated.

Employers may want to provide additional information about the complaints process including the obligations of a person assigned to receive complaints such as...

• keeping information confidential
• taking complaints seriously
  
• not preventing or discouraging a worker from seeking help from Occupational Health and Safety or seeking other remedies such as making a human rights complaint

Information about other rights workers have must be included such as:

• A worker’s right to request assistance from an Occupational Health Officer
  
• A worker’s right to file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.
• A statement that the workplace harassment policy is not intended to discourage or prevent workers from exercising any other legal rights available to them.

Information about occupational health and safety laws must be included such as:

• The legal obligations of employers, supervisors and workers.
• Laws that prohibit an employer from taking discriminatory action against a worker for complying with or seeking to enforce occupational health and safety laws
  
• Laws that deal with creating and implementing a policy on harassment prevention.