Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
PURPOSE OF POLICY:
TOPP KIDS is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination and harassment, in
which all individuals are treated with respect, dignity and have equal opportunities. Under the
Alberta Human Rights Act, every person has the right to freedom from harassment or discrimination
in employment. Harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated, condoned, or ignored. If a
claim of harassment or discrimination is proven, disciplinary measures will be applied against the
offending employee(s), up to and including termination.
The objectives of this policy are to:
- Ensure that all staff, children and families are aware that harassment and discrimination
are unacceptable practices and are incompatible with TOPP KIDS standards, as well as
being a violation of the law. - Set out the types of behaviour that may be considered offensive and are prohibited by
this policy. - Promote appropriate standards of conduct at all times.
This policy applies to every level of our organization and to every aspect of the workplace
environment and employment relationship, including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfers,
training, salaries, benefits and termination. It also covers rates of pay, overtime, hours of work,
holidays, discipline and performance evaluations.
DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT:
Discrimination means any form of unequal treatment whether imposing extra responsibilities or
denying opportunities. It may be intentional or unintentional. It may involve direct actions that are
discriminatory, or it may involve rules, practices or procedures that appear neutral, but
disadvantage certain groups of people. Discrimination may take obvious forms, or it may happen in
very subtle ways.
Harassment means a course of comments or actions that are known, or ought reasonably to be
known, to be unwelcome. It can involve words or actions that are known or should be known to be
offensive, embarrassing, humiliating, demeaning or unwelcome, based on a ground of discrimination identified by this policy. Harassment can occur based on any of the grounds of
discrimination.
Examples of Prohibited Behaviour:
- Any form of sexual harassment, including touching, petting, pinching, kissing,
unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, requests, or invitations, leering or other
suggestive gestures - The display of visual sexual material that is offensive, or which one ought to know, is
offensive - Bullying
- Demeaning and/or belittling comments
- Nicknames, remarks, jokes or innuendos
- Obscene remarks or gestures
- Display or circulation of offensive pictures, graffiti or materials, in print, email or
electronic means. - Singling out an individual for humiliating or demeaning teasing or jokes
- Comments ridiculing an individual because of characteristics that are related to a
particular group - Creating a poisoned work environment through comments or conduct. The comments
or conduct may not be directed at a specific individual, and may be from any individual,
regardless of position or status. A single comment or action, if sufficiently serious may
create a poisoned environment
REPORTING DISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT:
- Share Fearlessly with the individual involved. (support available if needed)
- If sharing fearlessly is unsuccessful, report the complaint to the next person in the
hierarchal structure. A report should include details about the alleged incident(s),
including the date(s), time(s) and location(s), what happened, who was involved and
the names of any witnesses. - TOPP KIDS will investigate all complaints of workplace harassment/discrimination by
interviewing the involved (complainant, respondent and witnesses), all investigations
will be documented and confidential. - Upon results of investigation, disciplinary action will be taken up to and including
termination.
All individuals involved in a workplace discrimination or harassment report are expected to keep
the information of the situation strictly confidential.