{"id":24025,"date":"2016-11-24T16:42:37","date_gmt":"2016-11-24T21:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=24025"},"modified":"2016-11-25T11:38:23","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T16:38:23","slug":"three-things-charities-should-know-about-albertas-proposed-workplace-harassment-legislation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2016\/11\/24\/three-things-charities-should-know-about-albertas-proposed-workplace-harassment-legislation\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Things Charities Should Know about Alberta’s Proposed Workplace Harassment Legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Authored by Philip Milley, Associate Director of Legal Affairs<\/em><\/p>\n

On November 9, 2016 Bill 208,\u00a0Occupational Health and Safety (Protection from Workplace Harassment) Amendment Act, 2016\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>was tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. This proposed legislation aims to amend the Alberta\u00a0Occupational Health and Safety Act<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>(the “Act”) to include a prohibition on workplace harassment. This amendment expands the scope of prohibited workplace harassment that is covered by the Act. Notably, if this legislation becomes law, the Act will prohibit\u00a0both physical and\u00a0psychological injury.<\/p>\n

The new definition of\u00a0workplace harassment will include inappropriate conduct, comment, display, action or gesture that is based on a prohibited ground. It will also include conduct, comment, display, action or gesture that adversely affects a person\u2019s psychological or physical well-being where it constitutes a threat to the health and safety. Under the proposed legislation harassment could result from repeated conduct or a single serious occurrence that has a lasting harmful effect on a person.<\/p>\n

This proposed amendment will result in several additional obligations for employers in Alberta. As such, charities should take note\u00a0of the following highlights:<\/p>\n