“Workplace bullying – in any form – is bad for business.
It destroys teamwork, commitment and morale.”
Tony Morgan
The Government of British Columbia defines workplace bullying or harassment as “any inappropriate conduct or comment that a person knew or reasonably ought to have known would be humiliating or intimidating… [It] may be written, verbal, physical, online, or electronic, a gesture or display, or any combination of these.”
In 2020 the Canadian Labour Congress surveyed nearly 5,000 to get a sense of the extent of this type of conduct. Their initial report, “Harassment and Violence in Canadian Workplaces: It’s [Not] Part of the Job” uncovered some unsettling statistics. 7 in 10 workers have experienced a form of harassment and violence at work. Nearly 1 in 2 workers have experienced sexual harassment and violence in the last two years. Not surprisingly, minority groups including L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+, those of colour, those with disabilities all have experienced or are experiencing higher rates.
To that end, British Columbia is enforcing the Occupational Health and Safety Act Legislation on workplace violence and harassment. The legislation is also a condition of corporate best practice accreditation.
The law requires every workplace with more than 5 employees to:
- Develop written policies on dealing with both violence and harassment in the workplace
- Develop a plan and program to implement these policies
- Conduct training on these workplace violence prevention policies and procedures
How Fit4Defense Can Help
Fit4Defense works with employers to assess and improve safety and violence prevention policies and practices in their workplaces. Training employees in skills to prevent, recognize and de-escalate violence, harassment and aggression has many measurable benefits to a business, including
- Fulfill legal requirements
- Manage insurance costs
- Lower WCB claims
- Decrease in sick time due to stress
- Improve employee morale
- Increase employee sense of well being
What We Do
- Risk Management: Assess your work environment for risks related to violence in your workplace and recommend corrective actions.
- Legal Compliance: Review your policies and procedures to ensure relevant legislation and best practice conformance
- Cybersecurity Check: Assess your internet and other security risks for confidentiality
- Provide Training: Assist staff to recognize how and when individuals show signs of fear, anger or pain that it may lead to aggression or agitation.
If your organization is looking to improve the safety and well-being of your employees, please contact us at info@fit4defense.ca or call us at 604-644-7837.