Workplace Harassment In Ontario: What Your Employer Can And Cannot Do

Experiencing harassment at work can be an isolating and deeply distressing experience. It can make a once-welcoming workplace feel hostile and can have a significant impact on your health and career. If you are facing this situation in Ontario, it's crucial to know that you are not alone and that you have legal rights.

This guide will break down what constitutes harassment under the law, what your employer is legally required to do, and what steps you can take to protect yourself. We will also explore what happens if a toxic environment becomes so unbearable that it forces you to leave.

What is Workplace Harassment in Ontario?

Under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Human Rights Code, harassment is defined as "engaging in 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 includes behaviors that are often called "psychological harassment" or