Employment Law 101: Workplace Harassment

But what counts as "workplace harassment" and what are an employer's obligations? This post will set out the basics.

What is Workplace Harassment?

Workplace harassment is defined under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. This can include actions like spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo, excluding or isolating someone socially, intimidating a person, making offensive jokes or comments (verbally or in writing), undermining or deliberately impeding a person's work, or physically abusing or threatening abuse. It's important to note that a one-off incident can be considered harassment if it's severe and has a lasting harmful effect on the employee.