See how trades and STEM workplaces are tackling issues of harassment in the workplace
A new workplaces project has been created to confront harassment in workplaces, especially affecting women, with the goal of reducing stress, enhancing productivity, and retaining women in the scient, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industries.
The Safe STEM Workplaces project is a collaborative effort between WomanACT and the Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST) and funded by the Canadian Department of Justice. It seeks to enhance prevention and response measures for gender-based and sexual harassment. WomanACT is a Toronto-based organization working collaboratively to end violence against women and promote gender equity through education, policy, and community mobilization.
The pervasive issue of workplace harassment has garnered global attention, catalyzed by the #MeToo movement. With approximately 40 percent of women worldwide experiencing workplace sexual harassment, these figures are mirrored in Canada, where reports of sexual harassment from women consistently outnumber those from men by ratios ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 times.
Sexual harassment is a prevalent issue across Canada that permeates into places of work. In the workplace it can negatively impact productivity and motivation, increase stress, and increase the likelihood of employees leaving their jobs.
Series aims to reshape workplace cultures
WomanACT and SCWIST have partnered with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) to launch a transformative Micro-Lesson Training Series. This initiative, available through CCA partner associations to CCA integrated members at no cost, aims to reshape workplace cultures and eliminate gender-based and sexual harassment within workplaces.
The series offers an interactive training program encompassing essential concepts, practical strategies, and actionable steps. Participants will delve into trauma-informed practices, procedural fairness, equity, as well as the nuances of gender, sexual orientation, and harassment, and will receive a certificate upon completion. The series empowers participants to foster accountable workplace cultures, implement preventative measures, and respond effectively to incidents.
"Our partnership for the Micro-Lesson Training Series with CCA signifies more than collaboration; it signifies our shared commitment to reshape workplaces. We're writing a story where harassment has no place, and equality and respect thrive," says Harmy Mendoza, executive director of WomanACT.
The Micro-Lesson Series epitomizes the synergy achieved through cross-sectoral partnerships. The Canadian Construction Association's commitment to cultivating a culture of respect and safety aligns seamlessly with the shared objectives of WomanACT and SCWIST.
