Position Statements

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) upholds a set of values based in social democracy, social justice and environmental justice. These values guide HSAA in taking positions on issues that arise on an ongoing basis. Our position statements align with our mission, vision, values and strategic plan.

HSAA is affiliated with the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its subordinate bodies – the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the various District Labour Councils across Alberta.

To learn more about the mission and strategic plan that guide HSAA, click here.

On this page you can review the web version of our position statements. A PDF file can also be downloaded.

Position Statement 5 - Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace

It is the position of HSAA that Bullying and Harassment is considered unacceptable conduct.  It is offensive, and in many cases, intimidates or humiliates others, and will not be tolerated by HSAA.

Rationale:

Bullying is defined as: Acts or verbal comments that could “psychologically” hurt or isolate a person in the workplace.  Sometimes bullying can involve negative physical contact as well.  Bullying usually involves repeated incidents, a pattern or behavior that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a person or group of people.  It has also been described as the assertion of power through aggression. (CCOHS Definition).

Harassment means any single incident or repeated incidents of objectionable or unwelcome conduct, comment, bullying or action by a person that the person knows or ought reasonable to know will or would cause offence or humiliation to a worker, or adversely affects the worker’s health and safety, and includes

  • Conduct, comment, bullying or action because of ethnicity, religious beliefs, colour, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, and
  • A sexual solicitation or advance,

but excludes any reasonable conduct of an employer or supervisor in respect of the management of workers or a work site. (Alberta OHS Act, sec. 1(q))

Alberta OHS Act has enacted obligations required of Employers, supervisors, and workers for the prevention of harassment in the workplace.

Every employer shall ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable for the employer to do so, that none of the employer’s workers are subject to or participate in harassment or violence at the work site. (OHS Act, Part 1, sec. 3(1)(c))

Every worker shall, while engaged in an occupation, refrain from causing or participating in harassment or violence. (OHS Act, Part 1, sec. 5(d))

HSAA recognizes that harassment in the workplace compromises the integrity of the employment relationship and endangers employee well-being and job performance.

It is the responsibility of the employer to have a harassment prevention plan which includes a policy and procedures to provide a working environment which protects employees from Bullying and Harassment.

HSAA will insist on a timely, thorough investigation to be conducted by the Employer in every Bullying and Harassment complaint and will vigorously pursue redress for all bargaining unit members who are harassed.

Approved December 3, 1998
Amended March 2019
Approved at Convention May 2019