Workplace Bullying and Harassment Foundations Seminar

In 2013, WorkSafeBC issued occupational health and safety policies relating to workplace bullying and harassment. Since then, workplace bullying and harassment, and their associated legal issues, have continued to grow as a source of concern and liability for employers. Bullying and harassment investigations, prohibited action complaints, and mental disorder claims are just some of the proceedings that can arise following a bullying and harassment complaint, which may bring employers into direct contact with WorkSafeBC. On top of satisfying WorkSafeBC’s requirements, employers also need to consider and balance their overlapping obligations in the human rights sphere. Knowing how to navigate, and potentially avoid, such complaints and related proceedings at the outset can save employers time, money, and energy. 

In this Foundations Course we will take employers through their legal obligations and provide them with the tools to respond to complaints of bullying and harassment – and the myriad of issues related to same – in a strategic, and practical, manner. Some of the questions we will address include:

• What constitutes a bullying and harassment complaint and what obligations arise?
• When can you hold workers out of work and what return-to-work issues arise?
• What if a worker refuses to participate or goes on leave following a complaint?
• What should you do if a worker files a claim for compensation for a mental disorder arising from bullying and harassment?
• What are prohibited action complaints and how do you navigate them? How should you respond to prohibited action complaints?
• How should you respond to requests for information from WorkSafeBC’s Prevention and Claims Departments?
• How does human rights legislation impact all of this?

Who should attend?

This seminar is suitable for human resource professionals and members of management who are looking to improve their organization’s awareness of, and preparedness for, WorkSafeBC-related matters that can arise upon receipt of bullying and harassment complaints. The session is relevant to both unionized and non-unionized workforces.

Learning format and materials

This seminar will be completed as a half-day in-person seminar. It will incorporate case studies and hypothetical scenarios to provide participants with the opportunity to apply their learnings. Attendees will be provided resource materials for on-the-job reference.