GBCBA: Sexual Harassment

The Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) recognizes and is committed to the right of all employees to work in an environment free from sexual harassment.  To this extent, the Board will not tolerate any conduct that could be classified as sexual harassment and will make every reasonable effort to ensure that no employee be subject to such harassment. 

Definition 

Sexual harassment may be defined as any unwanted sexual attention of a persistent or abusive nature made by a person who knows or ought reasonably to know that such attention is unwanted, or implied or expressed threat of reprisal in the form of actual reprisal or the denial of opportunity for refusal to comply with a sexually oriented request, or sexually oriented remarks and behaviour which may reasonably be perceived to create a negative psychological and emotional environment for work. 

The alleged victim of sexual harassment may be male or female.  The harasser may be of the same or opposite sex of the victim.  The harasser may be a manager, supervisor, co-worker, or subordinate. 

Examples of Sexual Harassment 

Examples of sexual harassment may include, but are not limited to: 

• unwelcome remarks
• jokes that cause awkwardness or embarrassment (dirty jokes)
• innuendos or taunting
• gender-based sexual remarks
• telephone calls with sexual overtones
• proposals of intimacy of a sexual nature
• repeated unwelcome requests for dates
• requesting or demanding sexual favours
• leering
• patting
• pinching
• touching
• grabbing
• hugging
• rubbing
• brushing against\displaying of pornographic materials or pictures
• displaying of derogatory pictures, cartoons, or sayings. 

The behaviour may not be intentional in order to be considered sexual harassment.  If the behaviour is offensive and is uncomfortable for other employees, it will not be tolerated by the Board. 

DMT Responsibility: AS-HR