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.
Personal Harassment Harassment means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Harassment can be either psychological or physical or it can be a combination of both. It is any behaviour, whether deliberate or negligent, which denies individuals their dignity and respect, is offensive, embarrassing or humiliating to the individual and adversely affects the working environment.
Workplace Violence (a) It is recognized that at certain worksites or in certain work situations employees may be at risk of physical violence or verbal abuse from clients, persons in care or custody, or the public.
(b) Where such potential exists:
(1) employees at those worksites or in those work situations shall receive training in the recognition and management of such incidents;
(2) physical and procedural measures for the protection of employees, applicable to those worksites or work situations, shall be implemented.
(c) The Permanent Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall be consulted regarding the curriculum of training and the applicable physical and procedural measures referred to in (b) above.
(d) The Permanent Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall jointly develop a new or approve an existing training package on risk assessment.
(e) Employees shall be informed concerning the potential for physical violence or verbal abuse from clients, a student, instructors or other members of the public, subject to statutory limitation.
(f) Immediate critical incident stress debriefing and post traumatic counselling shall be made available for employees who have suffered as a result of violence. Leave required to attend such debriefing or counselling sessions will be without loss of pay.
Sexual and Personal Harassment The Employer shall provide and the Union and Employees shall support a workplace free from personal or sexual harassment and any other harassment based on the protected characteristics set out in Article 2.
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.
Sexual Harassment CONTRACTOR shall have a Sexual and Gender Identity harassment policy that clearly describes the kinds of conduct that constitutes sexual harassment and that is prohibited by the CONTRACTOR’s policy, as well as federal and state law. The policy should include procedures to make complaints without fear of retaliation, and for prompt and objective investigations of all sexual harassment complaints. CONTRACTOR further agrees to provide annual training to all employees regarding the laws concerning sexual harassment and related procedures pursuant to Government Code 12950.1.
WORKPLACE The Employee shall be required to perform work at or any other site of work for the Employer.
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
Workplace Safety The parties to this Agreement commit themselves to achieving the highest possible standards of occupational health and safety including adherence to the consultative and issue resolution processes included herein. Participation in and support for building and construction industry initiatives to improve construction industry standards in occupational health and safety will form an important part of this commitment. Observance of relevant Acts, Regulations, and Codes of Practice are the minimum level acceptable to enable employers and employees to meet their responsibilities and to work safely and follow health and safety rules in their workplace. On all sites there will be developed a site safety plan and job specific ‘job safety analysis’ to identify and manage the risks associated with work on each particular site. Such safety plan will include suitable procedures for personnel/material access, and site evacuation procedures. The Incolink Safety Handbook ‘SAFE’ (as amended) is endorsed by this Agreement as a proper guide and reference source for safety management and control of risks.
1) The parties agree that the WorkSafe Australia Guidance Notes on Material Safety Data Sheets shall be observed at all times.
2) Hearing tests: Audiometric tests should be conducted within two months of a person commencing employment, and thereafter at intervals of two years.
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.
