Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy: What Every Ontario Employer Must Have
5 min read
Workplace violence and harassment are not just HR concerns — they are legal obligations under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Since the passing of Bill 168 in 2010, every Ontario employer is required to have written policies and programs addressing both workplace violence and workplace harassment. These requirements apply to virtually every sector: construction, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and office environments. Failing to have compliant policies in place can result in Ministry of Labour orders, significant fines, and leave your organization exposed to civil liability. Whether you are a small business owner or a large employer, here is exactly what you need to have in place.
- 1
Every Ontario employer with five or more workers must have a written workplace violence policy AND a written workplace harassment policy — both must be reviewed at least annually
- 2
Your workplace violence program must include measures to control identified risks, a procedure for workers to report incidents, and a process to investigate and deal with violent incidents
- 3
Your workplace harassment program must include how incidents will be investigated, how findings will be reported to the complainant and respondent, and the confidentiality protections in place
- 4
Employers must provide workers with information and instruction on the contents of both policies and programs — this must be documented
- 5
Bill 132 (2016) strengthened the requirements: investigations must now be conducted by an appropriate person, and workers must receive a written summary of the investigation results
- 6
If a worker is at risk of domestic violence in the workplace, the employer has additional obligations to protect them — this is explicitly covered under OHSA Section 32.0.4
- 7
Supervisors who engage in workplace harassment can be personally fined up to $100,000 under the OHSA — individual accountability is now explicit
- 8
Policies must be posted in a visible location in the workplace, not just distributed digitally
Need Expert Help?
Monarch Health and Safety Group helps Ottawa and Ontario businesses stay compliant and build stronger safety cultures.
Get a Compliant Workplace Violence & Harassment PolicyMore Safety Guides
What Is COR™ Certification and Does Your Business Need It?
4 min read
Workplace SafetyTop 5 Fall Protection Requirements for Ontario Construction Sites
5 min read
WHMISWHMIS 2015: What Every Ontario Employer Must Know
4 min read
DocumentationHow to Build a Health & Safety Manual Your Team Will Actually Use
6 min read