anti-harassment policy

Dismissal for threat void where employer relied on outdated discipline

July 18, 2012 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Union Relations, 0

An Ontario labour arbitrator just allowed an employee’s grievance after the employer terminated him for swearing, refusing to leave the workplace and threatening the vice-president with a shovel. As horrible as this incident sounds, the employer had absolutely no proof of the events because the employer did not follow its own policy and conduct a proper investigation.

anti-harassment policy, anti-violence policy, collective agreements, disipline policy, employment law, grievance, Labour Law, lack of evidence, misconduct, no termination notice, prior incidents of discipline, progressive discipline, sunset clause, termination for cause, threats, workplace harassment, workplace investigation, workplace violence

‘Sexting’ becoming a problem in the workplace

August 5, 2011 Christina Catenacci Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights

What prompts a supervisor or worker to send a co-worker inappropriate text messages? In British Columbia, sexually charged messages in the workplace have led to trouble for employers. What do employers need to know so they can avoid being on the hook for sexual harassment?