What do they do differently?
Evidence of meeting #57 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workplace.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #57 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workplace.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
They're just people who specialize in dealing with issues.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Can you explain the format? You said that in 2010 you developed office-wide training and you have a policy in place. I think you said everyone who is new is given the policy to read. Is there training as well, or is it just that they must read the policy? If it's just the policy, how do you follow up to make sure it's been read?
11:15 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We had someone come in to do a session with us when that policy was distributed. Of course, we consulted on that policy with the joint labour management committee in our office as well before we finalized that policy. We had a session on harassment when we put that policy out.
11:15 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
If someone was hired in 2011 or 2012, they weren't involved in the training so they'd get the policy in print, I assume, or in an e-mail electronically. Is there any method to follow up to ensure that they've read it and they understand what their rights are or what they should or shouldn't be doing?
11:15 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We've had very little experience with new employees because we're not losing them.
11:15 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Certainly they would be given the policy and it would be explained to them. We have not had a specific training session since 2010.
How many employees have we hired? Not very many.
11:15 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We had one person who left in the last two years. We have staffed new positions. You're making a very valid point that we probably should go beyond.... All our policies are on the intranet, our internal website, and they do meet with HR when they're first employed. But you're right, I think we should probably go beyond and make sure that we can answer any of their questions.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
We're used to dealing with the larger groups, as I said, that we've had in here, so a lot of them have different follow-up.
Could you take me through this? They have this policy and if they're harassed by someone at the same level they are versus being harassed by someone who is, say, a supervisor, what would be the difference? What would be in the policy that would tell them what to do?
11:15 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I think the policy says that a first line of attack would be to speak to the harasser. If they don't want to do that, the next line would be to speak to their manager, and on up the chain as necessary.
Denise, did you want to add anything to that?
11:15 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Exactly. Of course, if the manager is the harasser, then they can come to me as the director of corporate management. Again, because we're so small, they have easy access to our HR service. They can come very informally to speak with our HR analyst or adviser.
Under the policy, the process is the same. But as you mentioned, if it is the manager who is doing the harassment, there's one step that would be skipped. They would come to me directly.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
We have just a few seconds left.
You talked about the office having several tools for harassment. Did you say a labour committee, HR, and an anonymous electronic box? Did I get that right?
11:15 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Exactly.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Those are the three things that you have.
Has anyone ever suggested anything regarding sexual harassment in your electronic box?
11:15 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
11:15 a.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Thank you, Ms. Truppe.
I now turn to the official opposition. Mrs. Hassainia, you have seven minutes.
February 7th, 2013 / 11:15 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
First of all, ladies, thank you for joining us and for your excellent presentation.
You have a very complete and well defined policy on prevention and resolution of harassment in the workplace. My congratulations on that. Do you keep statistics on harassment cases in general or on different types of harassment, like sexual harassment or abuse of authority?
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
As I said, we've only had one instance, an informal complaint, so we know that.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
You have received no calls or questions about harassment, even if they are not followed up by complaints?
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Thank you.
Your policy on prevention and resolution of harassment in the workplace is very detailed. If I understood correctly, you said a little earlier that sexual harassment is included and well defined in the policy. Are you able to distribute written material and provide training for your employees on sexual harassment? Are the training and the policy available to members of Parliament?