GNED219 THE

CANADIAN WORKPLACE
EXPERIENCE
Lesson 5
Policies in the Workplace
Human Rights in the Canadian Workplace
Human Rights and Business on a Global basis
Policies in the Workplace
Many Policies exist in the Canadian workplace to protect the
Canadian employee

Many of these issues include but are not limited to the

following topics

- Accessibility
- Conflict on Interest
- Discipline
- Harassment
- Dress Code
- Hiring
 Policies in the Workplace
Hiring
Hiring an employee is a major investment for
any organization.

Any hiring process should be conducted in a fair

and objective creating an environment where
the best person for the job gets the position

Regardless of Age, Sex, Religion, Sexual,

Ethnicity, Preference or Political Affiliation
Policies in the Workplace
Hiring

Can an employee asking you if you are

Married
 Policies in the Workplace
Hiring

Can an employee asking you if you

are in Debt
Policies in the Workplace
Hiring

Can an employee ask if you have

children or plan to have children
 Policies in the Workplace
Accessibility
An accessibility policy outlines an
organizations standard and practice in
providing goods, services, facilities,
accommodation, employment, buildings,
structures and premises to people with
disabilities.

Ontario has specific requirements for an

Accessibility Policy (based on the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
 Policies in the Workplace
Conflict of Interest

Conflict of interest policies address situations and

circumstances in which an employee's personal
interests are - or can appear to be - in conflict
with the organization's interest.

Conflict of Interest typically deals with employees

who may use their position in the organization to
their personal or private advantage or to the
advantage of friends or family members.
 Policies in the Workplace
Discipline

The ultimate goal of policies and procedures on discipline is

to improve performance and compliance with organization
standards by correcting unsatisfactory behaviour.

Many organizations use progressive discipline, where

repeated or more severe offences result in stronger
penalties. This approach gives the employee the
opportunity to recognize and change his or her behaviour.

Your policy should clearly introduce and outline disciplinary

procedures.
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Harassment can be Can be verbal, physical,

sexual or psychological and is something a
reasonable person would find unwelcoming

Creating a safe and inclusive working

environment is something all employees
should look to foster
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Harassment can be very clear to identify,

but it also can be very obscure
 Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

The most common form of Harassment that

is reported is sexual harassment

The most common offenders are males, who

make harassing remarks to females.

A growing trend of females harassing male

colleagues has been reported.
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Male says to another Male colleague

..

Those pants are really nice, where did

you get them
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Female says to Male colleague

That is a really nice tie My

husbands Birthday is coming up,
where did you get it.
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Female says to another Female

colleague ..

That is such a cute blouse . Is

that a Small or Medium
 Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Female says to a Male Colleague

.

Are you single I think you

would be perfect for my sister .
Policies in the Workplace
Harassment

Male says to a Female colleague ..

Have you been working out ..

Your legs look great in that skirt
..
 Policies in the Workplace
Dress Code

The appearance of your employees is a reflection of

your organization and work environment.

Most workplaces have a minimum standard of dress

that they expect from their employees on a day-to-
day basis, and have a different standard for
circumstances that require work with the public.

It is important that all employees are aware of dress

code expectations.
 Policies in the Workplace
Dress Code

The dress code should remain gender

neutral, and not get into specific types of
clothing that would differentiate between
genders.

Explain the dress code in your orientation to

new hires, and if you are changing the dress
code ensure that all employees are aware
of the changes
 Human Rights in the Canadian
Workplace
Human Rights

Human rights are moral principles or norms, which

describe certain standards of human behaviour, and
are regularly protected as legal rights in municipal and
international law.

They are commonly understood as inalienable

fundamental rights "to which a person is inherently
entitled simply because she or he is a human being,
and which are "inherent in all human beings regardless
of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic
origin or any other status.
Human Rights in the Canadian
Workplace
The right to equal treatment with respect to
employment covers every aspect of the
workplace environment.

The Human Rights issues pertaining to the

Canadian Workplace include but are not limited to
the following items.

Promotions, Dismissal and layoffs, Rate of pay,

overtime, hours of work, holidays, benefits, shift
work, discipline, harassment, refusing unsafe work.
 Human Rights in the Canadian
Workplace
Human Rights and Business on a Global Basis

The Global Business Initiative on HumanRights

(GBI) vision is that all corporations in all parts of
the world respect the dignity and rights of the
people they impact and interact with.

Creating a standardized working environment,

regardless of Industry, Geography, and work
environment is the goal for the Global Business
Initiative on Human Rights.