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Building a Sexual Harassment-Free Workplace in Electricity

EHRC, with the support of the Department of Justice Canada and industry partners nationwide, has developed a new resource to assist in Building Gender-Based Harassment and Violence (GBHV) Free Workplaces in Electricity.

Published
January 24, 2024

About This Toolkit

Building a safe, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace continues to be the focus of many industry sector organizations. As a male-dominated industry, women in electricity occupations across Canada are at higher risk to be sexually harassed in the workplace. EHRC, with the support of the Department of Justice Canada and industry partners nationwide, has developed a new resource to assist in Building Gender-Based Harassment and Violence (GBHV) Free Workplace in Electricity.

Quick Exit

This national initiative will inform employers about sexual harassment, including strategies to address and prevent it. It will remind employers and employees of laws, responsibilities and rights to actively to prevent sexual harassment and respond to complaints appropriately. Supported by a set of educational tools fostering a respectful and harassment-free work environment, it will also include a framework to set a health and safety committee to improve sexual harassment policies and procedures.

The resource is comprised of three components:

  • The Educational and Outreach Program includes a toolkit to assist in preventing and addressing GBHV, training modules and materials.
  • Safe Space Mentoring Tool augments EHRC’s existing Mentor Junction and Connecting Women
  • Support Strategy and Framework helps electricity industry organizations respond to incidents in a manner that recognizes the experiences and needs of those affected by GBHV.
EHRC’s labour market research studies, including Leadershift: Equity in the Workplace, help to define the problems to be solved.
Among the women participants in this research: 1 of every 5 women reported that they had personally experienced harassment, violence or bullying in their workplace – at least monthly – in the last five years.
The 2018 update of Canada’s Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion statistics concluded that 60% of survey participants reported that they had experienced harassment in the workplace, and 30% said they had experienced sexual harassment.

Quick Exit

Resource Documents

Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee with representatives from electricity sector employers, relevant unions, professional bodies and law firms has provided ongoing advice, guidance and validation throughout this project. Thank you as well to the many individuals and organizations who shared their experiences and insight, shaping our understanding of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Funding

This project is funded in part by Department of Justice Canada / Ministère de la Justice Canada