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Workplace Violence & Harassment Awareness

Queen’s University endeavours to promote the highest possible level of safety and security in all of its areas, the ultimate result being a study, living and working environment free from violence, threats of violence, harassment, intimidation and other disruptive behaviour. While violent acts are not pervasive at Queen’s, no university is immune from such behaviour. All members of the Queen’s community share the responsibility to create and maintain an environment free from harassment and violent behaviour.

In order to comply with amendments made to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bill #168), Queen’s University has defined procedures to protect employees from workplace violence and harassment.

"Workplace Harassment" defined:

• 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.
• The comments and/or conduct typically happen more than once. They could occur over a relatively short period of time (for example, during the course of one day) or over a longer period of time (weeks, months or even years).

For information on the harassment policies in effect for faculty and staff, see the section “Filing an Official Harassment Complaint” below.

"Workplace Violence" defined:

• The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker;
• An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker;
• A statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.

Workers, students, customers, strangers, visitors to the campus or patients can introduce violence into the workplace. If you are a victim of, or a witness to a violent incident at work, contact your department head, unit supervisor, unit safety officer or Campus Security. Information on the policy against “Workplace Violence” can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/security/news/violencep.html

"Domestic Violence" in the Workplace defined:

Intimate partners (past or present), family members or friends may use violence or threats of violence against a worker. This kind of violence may also be known as “Domestic Violence” or “Family Violence”. “Domestic Violence” is considered “Workplace Violence” when it occurs in the workplace.

Domestic violence is widely understood to be a pattern of behaviour used by one person to gain power and control over another person with whom he/she has or has had a personal relationship. This pattern of behaviour may include physical violence, sexual, emotional, and psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, stalking, and using electronic devices to harass and control.

Frequently asked Q & A:

In this section you will find answers to such questions as:

• What are some examples of Workplace Violence, Harassment and how Domestic Violence enters the Workplace?
• Has Queen’s University acknowledged "E-Mail Harassment"?
• What Resources are available on and/or off Campus?

Filing an Official Harassment Complaint:

Over the last few years, definitions of harassment and the procedures for handling complaints of harassment have been incorporated into the agreements and policies for both unionized and non-unionized groups on campus.

To file a formal complaint as a Unionized Employee, you should follow the procedures outlined in your respective collective agreement:

• QUFA – Article 21 on page 59 of the collective agreement
• CUPE 254 – Article 3 on page 9 of the collective agreement
• CUPE 229 – Article 3 on page 5 of the collective agreement
• CUPE 1302 – Article 5 on page 7 of the collective agreement
• PSAC 901 – Article 20 on page 25 of the collective agreement
• ONA 67 – Article 19 on page 42 of the collective agreement

To file a formal complaint as a Non-Unionized Employee, please follow the procedures outlined in the University’s Human Resources policy

To initiate a complaint of harassment based on grounds prohibited by the Human Rights Code with the Human Rights Office, please follow the procedures outlined in the University’s Harassment/Discrimination Complaint Policy and Procedure document which can be found at the following link: http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/policies/harass/index.html

Queen's University Resources & Services:

Queen’s University - Campus Security or Kingston Police Force

If you are experiencing or witnessing a situation that is immediately violent or threatening, seek help immediately:

For Emergencies:

• Dial 36111 for Campus Security from any internal phone or 613-533-6111, or
• Activate one of the Emergency Phones on campus, or
• Dial 911, free from any phone to report an emergency situation requiring Police, Fire and/or Ambulance.

For other inquires contact Campus Security at:

Fleming Hall - Jemmett 202, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6
For non-emergencies or inquiries
tel: (613) 533-6733 | fax: (613) 533-6198
Email: campus.security@queensu.ca
(Please be aware that this account is not actively monitored and checked only a few times per day).

Queen’s University - Human Rights, Equity, Accessibility

The Human Rights Office is a confidential, university-based service provider which administers the University's Harassment and Discrimination Complaint Policy and Procedure. As well as providing education and training on human rights and equity related issues, the Office has advisors who assist in the resolution of harassment/discrimination complaints. The emphasis is on informal resolution, using facilitation/negotiation, save where the nature of the matter necessitates a more formal process. If you need information on, clarification on, or help to resolve a matter that has to do with Human Rights within the Queen’s University community, please contact:

A320 Mackintosh-Corry Hall,
Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6
tel: (613) 533-6886 | fax: (613) 533-6576
Email: hrights@queensu.ca

Queen’s University Human Resources

If you are an employee or a supervisor with questions about the staff harassment policy or the harassment language in the collective agreements, contact Human Resources at:

Fleming Hall, Stewart-Pollock Wing
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
tel: (613) 533-02070 | Fax: (613) 533-6196
Email: hradmin@queensu.ca

Queen’s University Faculty Relations

If you have a question about the harassment language in the faculty collective agreements, contact Faculty Relations at:

Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
74 University Avenue, Room 353, Richardson Hall
Queen's University at Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

General Enquires
Phone: (613) 533-2020
Fax: (613) 533-6441

Off-Campus resources:

If you need further information and/or clarification on labour issues, rights or other resources, please visit:

• Ontario Ministry of Labour
• Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)

Queen’s is committed to an inclusive campus community with accessible goods, services, and facilities that respect the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. The above Adobe Acrobat (pdf) and Word (doc) files are available in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports upon request.

Please contact us in one of the following ways:

• Email: safety@queensu.ca
• Phone: 32999
• In person: Room 326, Rideau Building