ANTI-RACISM, ANTI-HARRASSMENT AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STANDARDS

Skills For Change

1. Statement of Standard

Skills for Change believes that every person has the right to train, work and live in a society in which individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

Skills for Change is obliged to take steps to ensure that the workplace is free of racism on the basis of race, and does not occur in the provision of services. It is the responsibility of all workplace parties, administration, employees, clients and volunteers to prevent racial discrimination and harassment.

2. The purpose of this Standard is:

• To alert all those working with Skills for Change that racial discrimination in the workplace is an offence under the law.
• To set out the types of behaviour that may be considered offensive.

3. Definitions

For the purpose of this Standard, Racism is defined as:

A set of implicit or explicit beliefs, assumptions and actions based upon the ideology of inherent superiority of one racial or ethnic group over another and which is evident within organizational or institutional structures and programs as well as within individual behaviour patterns.

4. Who does this Standard apply to?

4.1 This Standard applies to everyone associated with Skills for Change including:

Employees, students, volunteers, members of the Board of Directors and committee members, instructors and other people who use our space.

4.2 Skills for Change will ensure that all concerned know of our commitment to anti-racism and how we implement it in all of our work by posting the standard in a prominent place in the agency.

ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STANDARD

In keeping with our mission statement Skills for Change will work towards creating an environment where all its members are treated with dignity and respect.

Racial harassment is contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Ontario Human Rights Code provides that every person has the right to equal treatment with respect to employment, services, goods and facilities without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship or creed. Racial discrimination is offensive, degrading and threatening. Skills for Change has implemented a racial harassment standard to make clear that it will not be tolerated. Individuals, regardless of status, seniority or tenure, found to have engaged in conduct constituting racial harassment will be severely disciplined.

1. Guiding Principles

• Skills for Change is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.
• Harassment and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, creed, age, marital status, family status or disability as defined in the Human Rights Code is against the law and will not be tolerated.
• Skills for Change will take reasonable steps to prevent harassment and discrimination in connection with its operations. This standard will be publicised throughout the Skills for Change community. Information will be included in staff, student and volunteer orientation materials.
• If harassment (including sexual harassment) or discrimination is thought to have occurred, Skills for Change will investigate and take action to resolve the situation.
• We will ensure that all people feel welcome and respected regardless of race and colour.

2. Definitions

2.1 Prohibited Grounds of Discrimination

Prohibited Grounds refers to gender, sexual orientation, race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, creed, age, marital status, family status or disability.

2.2 Discrimination

Discrimination occurs when people are treated differently and as a result unfairly. Discrimination also happens when some people, because of their gender, sexual orientation, race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, creed, age, marital status, family status or disability, do not get the same opportunities as others. It is an action or behaviour that results in unfavourable, negative or unfair treatment related to the prohibited grounds of this standard.

2.3 Harassment

For the purpose of this Standard, racial harassment is defined as:

• One or a series of incidents involving disparaging racial comments, distribution of racist materials, behaviour intended to incite hatred or other verbal or physical conduct of a racial nature which is known or thought reasonable to have been known to be offensive.
• When such conduct might reasonably be expected to cause insecurity, discomfort, offence, intimidation or humiliation to another person or group; or
• When such conduct has the purpose or the effect of interfering with a person’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile work environment.

Types of behaviour which constitute racial harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Name-calling, jokes, slurs, insults, rude behaviour, graffiti, avoidance or exclusion, threats, unwanted physical contact or physical violence.

Further:

• Harassment can take many forms. It can be intentional or unintentional and can be verbal, written, non-verbal or physical. A comment or action may be subtle or passive or it might be overt and aggressive.

2.4 Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment consists of comments or conduct related to gender, that are known or ought to be known to be unwelcome/unwanted, offensive, intimidating or hostile.

3. Who does this Standard apply to?

This Standard applies to everyone associated with Skills for Change including:

Employees, students, volunteers, members of the Board of Directors and committee members, teachers and other people who use our space.

4. Skills for Change is responsible for:

• Discouraging and preventing racial harassment or racial harassment in the provision of services.
• Investigating complaints of racial harassment.
• Progressive discipline will lead to dismissal from employment, volunteerism, training or services

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