Office Bullying and Harassment Policy Volumn 2013 | Page 20

Employers
Every employer must ensure the health and safety of its workers and any other workers present at
the workplace. Employers must also provide workers with the information, instruction, training, and/or
supervision necessary to ensure work is performed safely (section 115 of the Act).

The steps an employer must take to prevent and address bullying and harassment in the workplace
are detailed in OHS policy D3-115-2, and include the following:
•

developing a policy statement to prevent and address workplace bullying and harassment

•

taking steps to prevent or minimize bullying and harassment

•

developing and implementing reporting procedures

•

developing and implementing procedures for dealing with incidents and complaints

•

informing workers about the policy statement and steps taken to prevent or minimize
bullying and harassment

•

training supervisors and workers about recognizing, responding to, and reporting incidents and
complaints of bullying and harassment

•

annually reviewing the policy statement and procedures for reporting and dealing with
incidents and complaints

More information about the legal duties of employers is provided in the bullying and harassment
guideline G-D3-115(1)-3. Advice and practical suggestions about implementing each step identified in
the OHS policy for employers are offered throughout this guide, and in other resources published in
WorkSafeBC’s bullying and harassment tool kit.

Workers
Every worker must take reasonable steps to protect his or her own health and safety as well as the
health and safety of others (section 116 of the Act). With respect to bullying and harassment in the
workplace, workers have certain obligations that include:
• not engaging in the bullying and harassment of others

Toward a respectful workplace

5