The Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and the University of Guelph-Humber (hereafter referred to as “Humber” or “the College”) is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive culture in which all members of the College community study, work and live free from discrimination and harassment. The College has the right, as well as the legal and moral responsibility, to ensure that all its members are treated fairly, equitably, and respectfully, in order to provide a learning, working and living environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Harassment is a form of discrimination and a breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code and Humber’s Human Rights Policy.

What is Harassment?

Harassment in section 10(1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code and workplace harassment (personal/psychological harassment) in section 1(1)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act are defined as engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. The College interprets this to include any behaviour that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be offensive, embarrassing or humiliating to other individuals. Such conduct may or may not be based on any of the prohibited grounds identified in the Ontario Human Rights Code, and includes visual representations, electronic messages including emails and social media posts, written messages, and verbal and/or physical conduct.

Some examples of harassment are (not an exhaustive list):

• unwelcome remarks, jokes, slurs, innuendoes or taunting;
• hazing, stalking or shunning;
• the repeated mistreatment of one employee or student, targeted by one or more employees or students with a malicious mix of humiliation, intimidation and sabotage of performance (bullying);
• displaying derogatory or offensive pictures, graffiti or materials either through printed copy or personal computer;
• verbal abuse;
• insulting gestures or practical jokes which cause embarrassment or awkwardness;
• unauthorized and/or unnecessary physical contact;
• an impassioned, collective campaign by co-workers to exclude, punish and humiliate a targeted worker.

Note: Harassment or workplace harassment (personal/psychological harassment) does not occur where a supervisor gives legitimate directions or instructions to an employee in the course of employment or conducts performance reviews in accordance with the College's Faculty Evaluation Procedure, or its equivalent.

For more information, please see Humber’s Human Rights Policy at humber.ca/policies/human-rights-policy.

For questions pertaining to Humber’s Human Rights Policy and Complaint Resolution Procedure, please contact Nancy Simms, Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Diversity, at nancy.simms@humber.ca.

Thank you for your commitment to ensuring an inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment.