2025 Legislative Update: Workplace OHS Anti-Harassment Policies Across Canada

The recent coming into force of legislation in Nova Scotia requiring employers to implement an anti-harassment policy marks a new era of policy alignment across Canadian provinces.

Nova Scotia recently became the final province to statutorily impose a positive obligation on employers via occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation regarding anti-harassment policies in the workplace. Previously, Nova Scotia's OHS legislation encouraged but did not strictly require workplaces to implement an anti-harassment policy.

All provincially regulated employers are now subject to an obligation under their respective OHS legislation regarding the existence of an anti-harassment policy, regardless of the size of the workplace or the number of workers. However, the definition of "harassment" and specific requirements of the anti-harassment policy still vary across provinces.