Respectful Workplace a. The Employer is committed to taking appropriate measures to create and maintain a workplace that is respectful and free from inappropriate workplace behavior for all Agency employees pursuant to the statewide policy titled ‘Maintaining a Professional Workplace Policy’ (50.010.03).
b. If an Agency employee believes an Agency employee, supervisor or manager has violated the statewide policy titled ‘Maintaining a Professional Workplace’ (50.010.03), the employee shall submit a complaint pursuant to the process outlined in the policy. The Agency complaint form will be accessible to all employees both online and through the Agency’s Human Resources Office.
c. The employee may have a Union representative present during regular work hours when reporting inappropriate workplace behavior and through the process outlined in this section.
d. The Agency shall investigate the complaint and shall provide a written response to the employee filing the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days of the complaint being filed. When circumstances warrant it, the Agency may take additional time to complete the investigation in blocks of additional thirty (30) calendar days with notice to the Union. The response will include whether the complaint was substantiated and any relevant non confidential information pertaining to the remedial steps taken, if any. Repeated behavior or conduct shall be reported to the Agency Human Resource Office.
e. For purposes of this Section, the grievance procedure in Subsection 6 replaces the grievance procedure outlined in the local agreement.
(1) If the employee who filed the complaint believes that the Agency did not respond to the complaint or the complaint process was not followed, the Union, on behalf of the employee, may file a grievance directly with the Agency Head. The Agency Head or designee shall respond to the grievance within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt of the grievance.
(2) If the employee continues to believe the Agency did not respond to the complaint or did not follow the complaint process, the Union, on behalf of the employee may, within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Agency Head or designee’s response, file the grievance with the Department of Administrative Services Labor Relations Unit. The grievance will be investigated and a response provided within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the grievance was appealed to the Department of Administrative Services.
(3) If the Department of Administrative Services Labor Relations Unit’s response did not respond to the complaint or did not address whether the complaint process was followed, the Union may, within fifteen (15) calendar days, file an arbitration request with the Department of Administrative Services and send a copy to the Employment Relations Board asking for a list of seven
Safe Workplace A) The Employer and employees recognize the need for a safe and healthful workplace and agree to take appropriate measures in order that risks of accidents and/or occupational disease are reduced and/or eliminated. Employers will take all reasonable steps to eliminate, reduce and/or minimize threats to the safety of employees.
B) An employee performing visitation to clients in the community shall have the right to request backup to attend where there is reasonable cause to expect a violent situation and will have access to appropriate communication equipment.
C) When the Employer is aware that a patient/resident/client has a history of violent behaviour, the Employer shall make such information available to the employee. Upon admission or transfer the Employer will make every reasonable effort to identify the potential for aggressive behaviour. In- services and/or instruction in caring for the violent patient will be provided by the Employer.
D) The Employer will provide orientation and/or in-service which is necessary for the safe performance of work including universal precautions, the safe use of equipment, safe techniques for lifting and supporting patients/residents/clients and the safe handling of materials and products. The Employer will also make readily available information, manuals and procedures for these purposes. The Employer will provide appropriate safety clothing and equipment.
Workplace The Employee shall be required to perform work at or any other site of work for the Employer.
Workplace Harassment The Hospital and the Union are committed to ensuring a work environment that is free from harassment. Harassment is defined as a “course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome”, that denies individual dignity and respect on the basis of the grounds such as gender, disability, race, colour, sexual orientation or other prohibited grounds, as stated in the Ontario Human Rights Code. All employees are expected to treat others with courtesy and consideration and to discourage harassment. ref. Ontario Human Rights Code, Sec. 10(1). Harassment may take many forms including verbal, physical or visual. It may involve a threat, an implied threat or be perceived as a condition of employment. The Parties agree that harassment is in no way to be construed as properly discharged supervisory responsibilities, including the delegation of work assignments and/or the assessment of discipline. If an employee believes that she/he has been harassed and/or discriminated against on the basis of any prohibited ground of discrimination, there are specific actions that may be undertaken. The employee should request the harasser to stop the unwanted behaviour by informing the harassing individual(s) that the behaviour is unwanted and unwelcome. Should the employee not feel comfortable addressing the harasser directly, she/he may request the assistance of the manager or a Union representative. If the unwelcome behaviour was to continue, the employee will consult the Hospital policy on harassment and will be free to pursue all avenues including the complaint investigation and resolution. The Parties agree that an employee may have a representative of the Union with her/him throughout the process, if requested.
Employee Orientation Each and every person working for a contractor, including sub- contractors, will be given an orientation to familiarize them with the site safety program. Unless otherwise specified, each sub-contractor is responsible for the orientation of their workers.
Drug-Free Workplace Contractor represents and warrants that it shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. §701 et seq.) and maintain a drug-free work environment.
WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR
3.1 The Employer and the Union agree that all employees should work in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism. The parties agree that inappropriate behavior in the workplace does not promote a college’s/district’s business, employee well-being, or productivity. All employees are responsible for contributing to such an environment and are expected to treat others with courtesy and respect.
3.2 Inappropriate workplace behavior by employees, supervisors and/or managers will not be tolerated. If an employee and/or the employee’s union representative believes the employee has been subjected to inappropriate workplace behavior, the employee and/or the employee’s representative is encouraged to report this behavior to the employee’s supervisor, a manager in the employee’s chain of command and/or the Human Resources Office. An employee or the employee’s representative should identify complaints as inappropriate workplace behavior. The Employer will investigate the reported behavior and take appropriate action as necessary. The employee and/or union representative will be notified upon conclusion of the investigation. Upon request, the Employer will provide the employee and the union representative with a copy of the investigation report.
3.3 Retaliation against employees who make a workplace behavior complaint will not be tolerated.
3.4 Supervisors, managers and Human Resource Office staff will be trained on Article 3, Workplace Behavior. The Employer and the Union agree to prepare and make available online a 15-minute joint training online presentation on workplace behavior for all employees covered by this CBA and their supervisors, managers and Human Resources staff.
3.5 Grievances related to this Article may be processed through Step 3 of the Grievance Procedure.
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS Contractor will comply with the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1990 and will provide a drug-free workplace by taking the following actions:
a. Publish a statement notifying employees that unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited and specifying actions to be taken against employees for violations.
b. Establish a Drug-Free Awareness Program to inform employees about:
1) the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;
2) the person's or organization's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;
3) any available counseling, rehabilitation and employee assistance programs; and,
4) penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations.
c. Every employee who works on the proposed Agreement will:
1) receive a copy of the company's drug-free workplace policy statement; and,
2) agree to abide by the terms of the company's statement as a condition of employment on the Agreement. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension of payments under the Agreement or termination of the Agreement or both and Contractor may be ineligible for award of any future State agreements if the department determines that any of the following has occurred: the Contractor has made false certification, or violated the certification by failing to carry out the requirements as noted above. (Gov. Code §8350 et seq.)
Training and Orientation (a) No employee shall be required to work on any job or operate any piece of equipment until he/she has received proper training and instruction.
(b) The Employer shall provide sufficient and adequate training and/or orientation to any employee working in a new or unfamiliar work area or position.
Orientation The Employer shall provide planned and paid Orientation Programs of such content and duration as it deems appropriate taking into consideration the needs of the Employer and the Nurses involved. Such Nurses will not be considered part of core staffing during their Orientation Program nor will they be provided with primary assignments.
