Harassment

DEFINITION:

Harassment

Any behaviour that satisfies one or more of the following definitions of Harassment:

Harassment Based on a Prohibited Ground of Discrimination:

Behaviour directed towards another person that:

• is abusive or demeaning; and
• includes a direct or indirect reference to a Prohibited Ground of Discrimination; and
• would be viewed by a reasonable person experiencing the behaviour as an interference with that person’s participation in a University-Related Activity or creating an intimidating, humiliating or hostile environment.

Sexual Harassment

Behaviour of a sexual nature by a person:

• who knows or ought reasonably to know that the behaviour is unwanted or unwelcome; and
• leads to or implies job or academically related consequences for the person harassed; or
• would be viewed by a reasonable person experiencing the behaviour as an interference with that person’s participation in a University-Related Activity or creating an intimidating, humiliating or hostile environment.

Personal Harassment

Behaviour directed towards a specific person or persons that would be characterized by a reasonable person as:

• abusive and demeaning; and
• threatening or intimidating; and
• either interfering with the targeted person’s participation in a University-Related Activity or creating an intimidating, humiliating or hostile environment.

In addition, Personal Harassment must either abuse the power one person holds over another or misuse authority or constitute a pattern of mistreatment.

Personal Harassment is not:

• interpersonal conflict or disagreement;
• the use of appropriate performance management or workplace discipline; or
• action where the harm by any objective standard is fleeting