Educational highlights for workplace leaders
At the end of the session, supervisors and managers will:

This session includes the legal aspects of Harassment, but goes beyond, to tackle many issues that can disrupt the workplace. Some behaviour is considered Harassment. Others include aspects of bullying. Others still are just inappropriate and no one knows what category to put them into. Regardless, most of the problems come down to problems with communication. Not just how we communicate with one another, but how supervisors and managers communicate what is acceptable and what is not. In this customized session your supervisors and managers will learn ways of creating a respectful work environment. Using thought-provoking and fun exercises, they will learn that a respectful workplace is not difficult to achieve. In fact, with a bit of work, it can be very easy. They will find out what must be done, to avoid costly liability, employee turn-over and employee/customer dissatisfaction. At the end of the session, your workplace leaders will feel more confident to address a variety of issues, including Harassment and just plain disrespectful behaviour.

Workplace leaders. This session may also be done with employees and workplace leaders together, so that issues can be raised and addressed effectively. Sometimes the male-dominated workplaces are the most difficult, because us men have been socialized a bit differently and the norm of a male-dominated workplace is not always respectful. Those who attend will discuss issues head-on, and find ways to address problems of disrespect, even when it seems such behaviour has “thrived” for years. Of course, the education of the legal issues of Harassment will also benefit those who attend. Everyone who supervises people needs to know their legal obligations, on behalf of their employer. If they don’t, they risk an internal or external workplace human rights complaint, due to Harassment. Of course, there is also the risk of bad publicity and bad customer relations. Your workplace leaders will benefit from a better understanding of Harassment and all forms of disrespectful behaviours, and they will feel more confident to tackle most issues before they become a big, messy and expensive, deal. When any issues of respect get more complex, they will know to seek advice from within their workplace instead of letting things get worse.

Your sessions have greatly assisted our Fire Officer candidates as they gain a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in dealing with workplace issues such as Harassment and other forms of discrimination. Their learning of your knowledge of the law and the practical side of workplace issues is a benefit to our department as we require our Fire Officers to effectively deal with workplace issues before they get out of hand. Our Fire Officer candidates have continually commented to me about your ability to provide clear and concise information in a meaningful and enlightened manner. They have also commented on your entertaining method of keeping them interested and engaged during lectures and your overall commitment to their learning and understanding of the topic under discussion.

Robert Chapman, Division Chief, Training and Development Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services

Stephen Hammond, B.A., LL.B., CSP, is a lawyer turned workplace and community human rights speaker and educator. His Bachelor of Arts in political studies is from the University of Manitoba and his Bachelor of Laws degree is from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. Stephen is the author of Managing Human Rights at Work: 101 practical tips to prevent human rights disasters and Steps in the Rights Direction: 365 human rights celebrations and tragedies that inspired Canada and the world. Stephen is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the International Federation for Professional Speakers. In 2008 Stephen was one of only 5 Canadians to receive the designation of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) which is the “most prestigious earned designation for platform excellence” by the International Federation. Fewer than 10% of the Federation members hold this designation including just 43 Canadians.

Stephen Hammond's other Training Sessions include:

For an article on Harassment Prevention in the Workplace: