Whether an organization is big or small, workers and employers
both have rights and responsibilities to ensure a safe and legal
working environment. Like many private employees, public servants
can face harassment or
discrimination in the workplace and may face challenges
reporting such issues. This topic has made headlines in Edmonton,
Alberta, where an internal audit reported that nearly one-fifth of
city employees had experienced harassment.
The high figure showing how many city employees allegedly
experienced harassment comes from a 2016 employee engagement
survey. The survey was taken by 72 percent of city employees. In
the survey, 19 percent of employees said they had experienced
harassment, and 11 percent of employees reported that they had
experienced discrimination. Of those who had experienced
discrimination, only 36 percent said they had reported the
behaviour.
