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{{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = employment}}
==What is sexual harassment?==Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. ==='''Sexual harassment ''' can affect anyone: employees, tenants, students, and other people can all be targets of harassmenttake many forms. It can occur in the workplace be physical conduct such as grabbing, kissing or away from itother unwelcome touching that has a sexual connotation. It can interfere with an employee’s ability to do their job, or create be verbal conduct such as making derogatory comments about a hostileperson's appearance, intimidatingtelling crude jokes, or offensive work environmentmaking sexual propositions. It can affect a tenant’s rental housing situation or a student’s educationbe something in the environment such as displaying offensive pictures at work.
==What can you do if you are sexually harassed?Get help==# React immediately and directly, if possible. Sometimes you can talk to the person harassing you. The best response may be to tell the person that you don’t welcome or accept the behaviour, and if they repeat it, you will report it. But sometimes, talking to the harasser won’t work. The next parts explain what else you can do.# If you’re an employee, talk to your company supervisor or human resources person. Find out your employer’s policy on human rights complaints. If you belong to a union, talk to the union steward. You have a right under the collective agreement between the union and employer to complain to the union about sexual harassment by the employer, a supervisor, a co-worker, or a customer.# Make and keep a written record of every incident of harassment—when it occurs. Include the date and location, who else was present, and the details of the harassment. Tell someone else, like a trusted co-worker, friend, or family member that you are being harassed. Your written record, and the fact that you told someone, may be important evidence if you file a complaint or sue.# If the harassment continues, file a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal—check script [[Human Rights and Discrimination Protection (Script 236)|236]] for details. The [http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/ Tribunal website] explains how to do this. Phone the Tribunal at 604.775.2000 in Vancouver and 1.888.440.8844 elsewhere in BC. If the Code covers your complaint, the Tribunal will ask the other person to reply to your complaint. The Tribunal will try to help you and the other person settle the case. If that’s not possible, the Tribunal may hold a hearing. If your complaint is justified, the Tribunal can make orders to stop the harassment and pay you money for lost income (including wages and disability and other benefits) and expenses. The Tribunal can also order the person who harassed you to pay you for injury to your dignity, feelings, and self-respect.#:The Code prohibits anyone from threatening you or retaliating against you for filing a complaint.#:The [http://www.bchrc.net/ BC Human Rights Clinic] may be able to help you file a complaint with the Tribunal and help you at a hearing. The Clinic is operated by the [http://www.clasbc.net/ Community Legal Assistance Society]. Check the [http://www.bchrc.net/ Clinic website] or phone 604.622.1100 in Vancouver and 1.855.685.6222 elsewhere in BC. Live phone help is available only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.# If you lose your job because of discrimination, you may also be able to sue in court for wrongful dismissal. Check script [[If You're Fired - Wrongful Dismissal (Script 241)|241]], called “If You’re Fired—Wrongful Dismissal”, for more information. But complaining to the Tribunal may work better in a sexual harassment case. As well, a wrongful dismissal lawsuit can be complicated and expensive, so if you are thinking about suing, get legal advice first.# Contact a lawyer for legal advice about what you can do. For the name of a lawyer, call the [https://www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service Lawyer Referral Service] at 604.687.3221 in the lower mainland or 1.800.663.1919 elsewhere in BC.
==Are there time limits for filing =With a harassment complaint or suing?===Yes, there are time limits in both cases. You have 6 months from the last harassment incident The '''BC Human Rights Clinic''' may be able to help you file a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunaland help you at a hearing. If you wait more than 6 months, the Tribunal may still accept your complaint if it believes it The clinic is in the public interest to accept it and operated by the delay won’t be unfair to anyoneCommunity Legal Assistance Society (CLAS). There are also time limits for suing :Telephone: 604-622-1100 in court—you need legal advice about thatVancouver :Toll-free: 1-855-685-6222:Web: [https://www.bchrc.net bchrc.net]
[updated February 2018]
'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy and edited by John Blois[http://www.clasbc.net/laura_track Laura Track], Community Legal Assistance Society, and [http://dir.gov.bc.ca/gtds.cgi?esearch=&view=detailed&sortBy=name&for=people&attribute=name&matchMethod=is&searchString=Katherine+Hardie&objectId=43315 Katherine Hardie], BC Human Rights Tribunal.'''
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