B.C. Anti-Bullying Legislation To Take Effect
Drews, K. (2013). Canadian Press.
The new policies date back to July 2012, when the provincial government changed the law and expanded coverage to include those suffering from mental disorders caused by workplace bullying and harassment, said Joe Pinto, senior program manager for WorkSafeBC.
He said the government directed WorkSafeBC to develop a policy applicable to all workplaces. The board passed that policy in March.
Robyn Durling, spokesman for the non-profit society BullyFreeBC, said the new policies are important because they provide short-term help for those suffering from mental disorders, like anxiety or depression, caused by workplace bullying and harassment.
He said the policies will also help educate the public that bullying is not acceptable, noting that as many as 30 to 40 per cent of workers in some Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions have reported being bullied in the workplace.
Under the new policies, workplace bullying and harassment include inappropriate conduct or comments made by one person towards a worker. The person making the comments or behind the conduct must know or ought to know they will result in humiliation or intimidation.
Pinto said since July 2012 WorkSafeBC has received about 700 claims where mistreatment or bullying was alleged, and of those cases it has accepted about 40 cases, said Pinto.
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BullyFreeBC began as a community-based initiative by organizations and individuals concerned about workplace bullying, which is also known as personal or psychological harassment. Participants first met in 2007 to assess the problem. Realizing the cost to people and productivity, the group decided further action was necessary through law reform and awareness.
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