Recorded on: January 25, 2022
Length: 60 minutes
Summary
Lawyers Cayleigh Shiff of the Community Legal Assistance Society and Catalina Rodriguez of Forte Law explain what sexual harassment in the workplace is, what options you have, and where you might find support.
Highlights
In this webinar, you will learn:
What workplace sexual harassment is and how to know if you’re experiencing it. [2:55]
What microaggressions are and whether they can be workplace sexual harassment. [6:00]
Whether unwanted comments about gender expression and sexual orientation that are made by someone at work are workplace sexual harassment. [10:30]
What options are available if you feel like you’re being sexually harassed in the workplace, from speaking with the person to going to court (and several in between). [12:30]
What free services are available if you think you’re being sexually harassed at work. [19:30]
What to do if you’re scared that you’ll be fired if you speak up or file a claim. [21:30]
Whether you can resolve your concern privately and what a “non-disclosure agreement” is. [24:20]
What you can do if a co-worker is being sexually harassed. [27:15]
What happens if you don’t have “proof” that you’re being sexually harassed at work. [31:10]
Whether you can record the workplace sexual harassment or conversations with your employer about the workplace sexual harassment. [33:30]
Whether you can go to the media about the workplace sexual harassment you’re experiencing. [36:45]
What to do if you don’t feel safe going back to work but you can’t afford to quit. [39:00]
What options you have if you’ve told your employer about the workplace sexual harassment and they aren’t doing anything about it. [40:40]
Whether every employer must have a policy addressing workplace sexual harassment, and what to do if they don’t. [42:55]
How to deal with workplace sexual harassment if you’re in a union. [45:05]
Whether the person being harassed needs to tell the harasser that they are uncomfortable. [46:05]
What constitutes a “poisoned workplace.” [47:05]
Whether a co-worker asking you if you’re pregnant and making follow-up comments about sex amounts to sexual harassment. [48:00]
Whether workplaces are required to investigate if someone reports sexual harassment. [50:10]
Whether there is any flexibility in the one-year time limit for making a human rights complaint, given the traumatizing nature of harassment. [51:55]
Whether a co-worker staring at your chest during a conversation is sexual harassment. [53:10]
Whether being manipulated by someone at work into having a relationship is sexual harassment. [54:15]
Whether restorative justice is a possible means to resolve workplace sexual harassment. [56:00]
Featuring
Cayleigh Shiff
Cayleigh is a lawyer for the Human Rights Clinic at the Community Legal Assistance Society. She represents people who have experienced discrimination and assists complainants in navigating the BC Human Rights Tribunal process. She has a passion for social justice work and making legal information more accessible. Cayleigh earned her J.D. from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC in 2019 and was called to the bar in 2020.
Catalina Rodriguez
Catalina has been practicing employment and labour law in BC since 2006. She has worked in private practice with a large national firm representing companies, and with a small firm representing mostly employees. Prior to joining Forte Law, where she is currently an employment lawyer and workplace investigator, Catalina was head of employee relations for the Canada operations of a global bank. All of these experiences have given Catalina a broad range of perspectives on workplace issues. She also currently facilitates seminars on workplace harassment through StandUp teams. Catalina brings a coaching, trauma-informed, and mindful lens to the practice of law.
Attendee feedback
"Loved it!! One of the best seminars viewed during the pandemic!! Thank you everyone!!"
“Thank you to you all for the amazing presentation today! Very helpful information!”
“Thank you, Catalina, Cayleigh and Paula for such an informative session. Love it and appreciate it.”
“I find the webinar is very helpful with all the provided links and resources!”
“Thank you. It was very informative to learn how simply rephrasing a sentence can help in not creating a microaggression in the workplace.”
“Best webinar by People’s Law School to date.”
Additional resources
Information for workers
Step-by-step guidance if you experience sexual harassment at work, from People’s Law School
More on legal options to address sexual harassment at work, from SHARP Workplaces (Sexual Harassment Advice, Response, and Prevention for Workplaces)
Free legal help
SHARP Workplaces Legal Clinic, from Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS), offers free legal advice to anyone in BC who needs support dealing with workplace harassment
Respect at Work Legal Clinic, from Migrant Workers Centre, offers free workplace sexual harassment advice to newcomers to Canada
South Asian Legal Clinic offers free legal advice to low-income people who self-identify as South Asian
PovNet provides an online tool to find a legal advocate, who provide free support, advocacy and information to low-income and marginalized people experiencing legal problems
At law student clinics in the Lower Mainland (the LSLAP clinic), Victoria (the Law Centre), and Kamloops (Thompson Rivers University Community Legal Clinic), law students can help those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance
For bystanders
Tip sheet for bystanders witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace, from SHARP Workplaces
StandUP Teams, bystander training from Forte Law
For employers
Information and training for employers on workplace sexual harassment, from SHARP Workplaces
StandUP Teams, harassment training for employers from Forte Law