Ontario to invest $1.7 million in training to workers in the hospitality sector
The Government of Ontario is investing $1.7 million over three years as part of a Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act with an initiative called It’s Never Okay. Ontario will fund six sexual violence and harassment training projects including: Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, Tourism HR Canada, Women’s College Hospital, Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services, and Centre ontarien de prévention des agressions.
The initiative comes on the heels of a high profile sexual assault claims case. Pastry Chef Kate Burnham made allegations in an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal complaint filed against three former managers at Weslodge restaurant in Toronto. The incidents took place between 2012 and 2014. The case was resolved through mediation and nothing has been publicly revealed regarding the settlements.
According to the Globe and Mail, Burnham’s complaint alleges that her “male bosses groped her breasts and crotch and took turns smacking her rear whenever they passed her in the kitchen, in full view of their colleagues. They badgered her about her sex life and one of the men stole her phone to search it for explicit pictures. One of the chefs repeatedly propositioned her, threatening her employment when she refused to play along.”
In light of Burnham’s case, the government is responding with an attempt at making workplaces safer and improve support for survivors through legislative amendments. One such amendment is Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment).
Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), according to a release from the Government of Ontario, will require the following three new elements to be included in a workplace harassment program: “Set out who would investigate if the alleged harasser is the employer or supervisor; set out how confidentiality during investigations will be maintained; and provide the written results of the investigation to the complainant and alleged harasser (if under the employer’s direction).”
New employer duties include: “Duty to ensure an investigation into a workplace harassment complaint is conducted that is appropriate in the circumstances; duty to ensure the complainant and alleged harasser (if under the employer’s direction) are informed of the results of the investigation and any corrective action, in writing; and duty to review the program as often as necessary, but at least annually, to ensure that it adequately implements the workplace harassment policy.”
According to the press release, “The plan is helping to change attitudes, improve supports for survivors and make workplaces and campuses safer and more responsive to complaints about sexual violence and harassment. It will help ensure that everyone in the province can live in safety and free from the threat, fear or experience of sexual violence and harassment.”
“We know Ontarians want to respond to sexual violence and harassment when they see it. These training projects will empower frontline workers to step in and give them the tools to do so safely and effectively,” Tracy MacCharles, the minister responsible for women’s issues, said in release published by the Government of Ontario.
“Harassment is present in every industry and the hospitality industry is not immune to it,” commented Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association.
“We will work with our partners, key stakeholders and industry employers to create awareness and through training provide the necessary tools to ensure a safer workplace, respectful for all.”
Photo courtesy of 22065 Kitchen Ideas.