Sexual Harassment in Canada

Is it sexual? unwelcome? forced? ongoing? used to punish or reward someone?

SEXUAL HARASSMENT:

• Refers to UNWANTED sexual actions, gestures or comments.
• Happens at work or outside of work with co-workers or employers.
• In Canada, falls under Human Rights Law, a civil legislation, and not the Criminal Code of Canada although some Sexual Harassment Behaviours are also considered Criminal.
• May be reported to your provincial or territorial Human Rights Commission.

Types of Sexual Harassment

1.  Physical Contact or Threats of Physical Contact

Examples:

– constantly getting too close to you

– pinching, grabbing, brushing up against you

– sexual touching, touching inappropriately

2.  Intimidation

Examples:

– when your coworker or boss repeatedly asks you out

– offering or asking for sexual favors

–  employers making workers wear revealing clothing

3.  Gestures

Examples:

–             sending you flowers or flirting even when you don’t like it

–             use of eyes or any part of the body that suggests sexual meaning

4.  Sounds / Words

Examples:

– telling stories about sex

– whistling

– making sexual insults or remarks

5.  Obscenity

Examples:

– showing parts of their body

– showing obscene pictures or videos

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 9:11 pm and is filed under Civil Law, Criminal Law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.