We should all be able to go about our lives feeling safe and secure. However, today’s #metoo movement has demonstrated that sexual harassment and violence is a daily reality for far too many women.
Too many people experience harassment and violence in the workplace. Together we can demand action and ensure women, trans and non-binary workers can do their jobs with peace of mind.
With leadership, education and action by the federal government, we can end sexual harassment and violence. We can make workplaces safe for women, and we can make sure that survivors are believed and that perpetrators are held accountable. Join our call on the federal government to:
Half of women in Canada will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. It can be physical or sexual abuse, emotional or verbal abuse, financial manipulation or control, spiritual abuse, criminal harassment or stalking. It can happen at work, at home or in the community.
About every six days in Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner. Each night, almost 4,000 women – many with their children – turn to shelters because they aren’t safe at home. Research by Canada’s unions found that almost 40 percent of working women have experienced domestic violence and for most, it followed them to work, putting their jobs and their co-workers at risk.
Not all women experience harassment and violence in the same way. Young women, Indigenous women and women with disabilities experience higher rates of harassment and violence. For racialized and immigrant women, lesbian and bisexual women and trans and non-binary folk, sexual harassment and violence can be exacerbated by other forms of discrimination. They also face more barriers when it comes to finding services and support.
Canada’s unions are making workplaces safer for women by negotiating anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, better protection and intervention for women experiencing domestic violence, health and safety protections, and improved employee assistance and support programs. Thanks to our efforts, workers in Manitoba, Ontario and federally regulated workplaces now have five paid days of domestic violence leave so women can seek the support and services they need. Canada’s unions will continue to push for similar legislation in other provinces and territories.
Women’s organizations are on the frontlines when it comes to sexual harassment and violence, providing support and services to survivors and advocating for changes to ensure perpetrators are held accountable. While gender-based violence costs the Canadian economy $12 billion annually, these organizations have no stable funding and are struggling to survive.
Sexual harassment and violence remains a very serious barrier to women’s equality, especially in the workplace. It can range from verbal and psychological harassment, to unwanted touching, to physical and sexual assault. Perpetrators can be co-workers, supervisors, or even clients, patients or members of the public.
Sexual harassment and violence can have serious consequences on women’s physical, emotional and mental health, and on their work performance. It can compromise their ability to advance in the workplace and even lead to job loss.