Are You Entitled to Damages if You are Harassed at Work?
The short answer is in some cases yes.
Damages under the Ontario Human Rights Code
You can obtain damages if you have been harassed because of your race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability, or because of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression by your employer or an agent of your employer or by another employee. Depending on the impact of the harassment you could be entitled to $ 20 000 or more damages. We deal with a lot of sexual harassment complaints.
Damages for being subjected to a poisoned work environment
If the harassment you are experiencing is bad enough, you can quit and claim constructive dismissal damages.
An employer who creates intolerable working conditions is sometimes considered to have created a poisoned workplace. Workplaces become poisoned for the purpose of constructive dismissal only where serious wrongful behaviour is demonstrated.
Except for particularly egregious stand-alone incidents, a poisoned workplace is not created unless the serious wrongful behaviour, which creates a hostile or intolerable work environment, is persistent or repeated.
Damages for the Tort of Harassment
An Ontario judge recently ordered an employer to pay an employee $ 100 000 damages for committing the tort of harassment and another tort.
According to the trial judge in this case, there is a four-part test for proving harassment; namely:
(a) Was the conduct of the employer toward the employee outrageous?
(b) Did the employer intend to cause emotional stress or did they have a reckless disregard for causing the employee to suffer from emotional stress?
(c) Did the employee suffer from severe or extreme emotional distress?
(d) Was the outrageous conduct of the employer the actual and proximate cause of the emotional distress?
Complaint under the Occupational Health & Safety Act
In addition to claiming damages for being harassed, you can file a complaint under your employer’s Workplace Harassment Policy. The investigation of your complaint must be appropriate in the circumstances. If not, the Ministry of Labour can order your employer to retain a qualified investigator at the employer’s expense.
If you are being harassed and want to know your legal rights, call an employment lawyer.
If you would like to speak to an employment lawyer at the MacLeod Law Firm, you can reach us at [email protected] or 647-204-8107.
The material and information in this blog and this website are for general information only. They should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. The authors make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of any information referred to in this blog or its links. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found on this website or blog. Readers should obtain appropriate professional advice from a lawyer duly licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. These materials do not create a lawyer-client relationship between you and any of the authors or the MacLeod Law Firm.
Tags: Barrie Employment Lawyer Constructive Dismissal Discrimination Doug MacLeod Employment Lawyers Barrie Employment Lawyers Toronto Harassment Health and Safety Human Rights MacLeod Law Firm Ontario Human Rights Code Poisoned Work Environment Resignation Toronto Employment Lawyer Tort Workplace Harassment
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