Are You Experiencing Workplace Harassment or Discrimination?
Harassment, bullying and discrimination are serious issues that can affect your wellbeing and morale. QCCC employers are responsible for preventing and addressing workplace issues and protecting members from harm or retaliation.
Here are steps to deal with workplace harassment or discrimination:
- Know your rights and responsibilities
Members have the right to work in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, free from harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Members also have the responsibility to respect the rights and dignity of others and to report any incidents of harassment or discrimination they witness or experience.
- Speak up
If you feel that someone is harassing or discriminating against you or someone else, do not ignore it or hope it will go away. Let the person know their behaviour is unacceptable and unwelcome. You can do this directly or indirectly, depending on your comfort level and the situation: you can tell the person to stop, walk away, ask for help from a colleague or steward, or document the incident.
- Report the incident
If speaking up does not stop the harassment or discrimination, or if you are uncomfortable doing so, you should report the incident to your QCCC representative. Please note that all information provided is confidential and the QCCC will not share information without your consent.
The QCCC will request a copy of your employer's Harassment and Discrimination policy, guide you through the reporting steps, and hold the employer accountable should they not follow their policies. You should provide as much detail as possible about what happened, when, where, who was involved and how it affected you. You should also record your report and any follow-up actions your employer took.
- Seek support
Workplace harassment or discrimination can be stressful and emotionally draining. You should not have to cope with it alone: seek support from friends, family, co-workers or counsellors who can offer you advice, empathy and encouragement. The QCCC also provides an Employee and Family Assistance Program through our NDT Industry Benefits Plan.
- Know your options
If your employer does not take appropriate action to address harassment or discrimination, or if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your report, seek further advice through your QCCC Representative.
