Our goal is to help create safer work environments by raising awareness of the law surrounding sexual harassment in the workplace (SHIW).
The aim of the SHIW project is to help the Grey-Bruce community address the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace through public legal education, promotion of allyship, and providing advice and resources for people who have been sexually harassed at work.
Check out the Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic team in cartoon form, as they inform you about what exactly is SHIW.
HOW WE HELP
Employers play the most important role in keeping workplaces safe for their employees. We understand that this role and its accompanying responsibilities can be challenging to navigate.
Our office is here to support employers in creating safe workplaces through our no-cost public legal education and training initiatives.
We empower employees by equipping them with knowledge of the law surrounding SHIW and by providing legal advice, resources, and potential representation to workers who have experienced SHIW.
Our services are 100% confidential and free to employees living or working in Grey and Bruce Counties.
We work within the Grey-Bruce community to promote awareness of employee rights and employer responsibilities.
Through our public legal education and community outreach initiatives, we provide information, break down stereotypes and encourage allyship. We believe that knowledge has a powerful role to play in creating SHIW-free workplaces for everyone.
3 in 10 Canadians have experienced sexual harassment at work (Angus Reid, 2014)
1 in 5 Canadian women were sexually harassed in the workplace compared to 1 in 8 Canadian men. (2016, Statistics Canada General Social Survey)
Among women who reported being sexually harassed at work, more than 50% of them were targeted by clients or customers. (2016, Statistics Canada General Social Survey)
Employers are legally obligated to prepare and post in a conspicuous place a workplace policy that addresses harassment including sexual harassment. (Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, ss. 32.0.1)
We offer free workshops which help employees understand their legal rights.
We provide general information on the law surrounding SHIW and the options available to workers who have experienced it.
We provide free legal advice to individuals who may have experienced SHIW. We can also suggest helpful resources and make appropriate referrals.
In some cases, and subject to financial eligibility requirements, we offer full legal representation to workers who have experienced SHIW.
We offer free workshops to employers who want to better understand their SHIW-related responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Human Rights Code (HRC) of Ontario.
Engaging with the community is an important part of what we do. Some of our community involvement initiatives include:
surveying Grey-Bruce workers about their experiences with SHIW to determine how we can best support them
appearing at local outreach events sponsored by community partners
hosting outreach events of our own
creating and distributing engaging, easy-to-understand materials which provide information on the law surrounding SHIW
A new project still in the planning stages. Stay tuned to learn more about this exciting initiative!
Want to know more about what the law says about SHIW? Watch our clinic's short video: What Should You Do if SHIW Happens to You?
If you have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, we can provide you with free, confidential legal advice about your options.
(P.S. The "actors" in the video are our very own Grey-Bruce Community Legal Clinic lawyers and staff!)
For more information on the SHIW project, please contact project head Rebecca Holton by phone at 519-370-2200 ext. 23 or by email at rebecca.holton@gbclc.clcj.ca .
Scan the QR code or click the "SHIW survey" bar above to be linked to a survey about SHIW. You can be entered in to a draw to win one of two $25 gift cards. To ensure confidentiality the draw will not be posted publicly and winners will be contact privately.
Our fully accessible office is located in The Professional Building at 945 3rd Avenue East, Suite #2, Owen Sound, Ontario.
Our front door can be accessed directly from The Professional Building's south parking lot. Look for the red lettering and logo on our front window!