Pursuant to the Saskatchewan Employment Act, employees have a right to a healthy and safe work environment free from discrimination and harassment. The Act includes the following categories of harassment.

Harrassment

Harassment includes any inappropriate conduct, comment, display, action, or gesture by an individual toward another individual or others that is either:

• made on the basis of race, creed, religion, colour, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, physical size or weight, age, nationality, ancestry, or place of origin (also referred to as Discrimination under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018; or
• adversely affects the worker’s psychological or physical well-being and that the person knows or ought reasonably to know would cause the worker or learner to be humiliated or intimidated; and
• that constitutes a threat to the health or safety of the worker or learner
  • For this type of harassment to be established, the following must exist:
    • repeated conduct, comments, displays, actions, or gestures;
    • a single, serious comment, display, action, or gesture that has a lasting, harmful effect on the worker

Sexual harassment

Any conduct, comment, display, action, or gesture by a person towards a worker or learner that:

• is of a sexual nature; and,
• the person knows or reasonably ought to know is unwelcome

• any implied or express threat of reprisal for refusing to comply with a sexually-oriented request
• unwelcome remarks, lewd jokes, innuendos, propositions, or taunting about a person’s body, attire, sex, or sexual orientation
• displaying or sending pornographic or sexually explicit or offensive pictures or materials via text, hardcopy, video, or other multimedia platforms
• unwelcome physical contact/touching
• unwelcome invitations or requests, direct or indirect, to engage in behavior of a sexual nature; and/or
• refusing to work with or have contact with an individual because of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation

Reducing and eliminating discrimination and harassment

The foundation of prevention is respect for others, even if we don’t understand or agree with their opinions or values. Behaviours that help eliminate and reduce discrimination and harassment include:

• taking respectful action to resolve interpersonal problems at the onset of problems arising;
• when experiencing someone's behavior as problematic, letting the person know how you feel and asking them to stop the behaviour;
• being sensitive to the impact you have on others and being willing to alter or eliminate problematic behaviors;
• consider offering an apology if your actions have had a negative impact on someone; and,
• Employees can speak with your People Leader if you are experiencing or witnessing acts of discrimination and harassment;
• students can reach out to Student Affairs and Outreach for assistance.

If you are not able to respectfully and safely confront the individual directly, speak with your People Leader about accessing support. If that is not feasible, Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services offer other avenues for resolution such as:

• providing an overview of your rights, responsibilities and potential avenues under relevant USask policies and applicable legislation (in the employment context);
• identifying a variety of options for possible informal resolutions;
• pursuing or addressing the issue or concern through relevant USask policies or procedures;
• filing a formal complaint based on USask’s Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy;
• pursuing the complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and/or employment legislation, seeking the assistance of an Occupational Health Officer (in the employment context), and/or exercising any other legal rights pursuant to the law.

USask offers a safe and confidential environment to raise and discuss matters of discrimination and harassment through the office of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services (DHPS).

Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services supports USask principles:

• academic freedom
• collaboration
• commitment to community
• different ways of knowing, learning, and being
• diversity, equality, and human dignity
• excellence
• healthy work and learning environment
• innovation, curiosity, and creativity
• openness, transparency, and accountability
• reconciliation
• sustainability

Education and awareness opportunities

DHPS offers scalable education and awareness training for employees. Please contact the DHPS Office to inquire about training for your staff. You may also speak to your HR SBA about your training needs and they, along with DHPS, will assist you in selecting education and awareness that suits the needs of your staff.

(306) 966-4936
DHPS@usask.ca

Awareness self-guided course

This course provides definitions of discrimination and harassment per the Saskatchewan Employment Act. It also reviews the DHPS policy and policy procedure. Participants will learn how to be involved in prevention of discrimination and harassment, and how prevention can increase feelings of safety, security and belonging at USask.

This course will also describe how to make a formal discrimination or harassment complaint. Finally, it will overview the current USask DHPS model, which involves a third party support service to assist with intakes and inquiries, complaints, and education.

• Self-guided course

Other resources

Discrimination and harassment are preventable. USask strongly believes that raising awareness – along with a proactive and supportive reporting culture – is the best road to prevention, but no institution can do this alone. It will take all of us — staff, faculty and students — to create positive change.  

All staff, faculty and students who experience or witness an act of discrimination or harassment have an obligation to report the situation. Doing nothing is not a neutral act as it puts targets at a disadvantage.

Protecting human rights – through proactive health, safety and wellness measures – on our campus requires serious commitment and a strong internal responsibility system where all staff, faculty and students understand they have a shared role to play. 

Ways to report

1. Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services

Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services is aligned with USask values: collegiality, fairness and equitable treatment, inclusiveness, integrity, honesty, ethical behaviour, and respect. Preventing discrimination and harassment is a primary focus.

For general DHPS inquiries, including options other than making a formal DHPS complaint, start an inquiry ticket.

• General inquiry ticket

If you feel you are experiencing or witnessing acts of discrimination and harassment, know that you can change the situation. 

Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services (DHPS)
(306) 966-4936
Contact DHPS

• File a complaint

Independent third-party support service

DHPS seeks to create a safe and confidential space for reporting discrimination and harassment. Together with our consultants from 360 Workplace Solutions we use a mindful and compassionate approach to inquiries and complaints and seek to offer clarity and transparency on what to expect from our services. 

Offering an array of specialized services, 360 Workplace Solutions is comprised of experienced investigators, lawyers, mediators, trainers, policy developers and psychologists.

USask works with 360 Workplace Solutions to provide three main services to DHPS:

• respond and support to inquiries about discrimination and harassment
• respond and support formal complaints alleging discrimination and harassment
• provide awareness and education about discrimination and harassment

Employees and students may lay a formal complaint (when having experienced actions, comments, displays, and gestures of discrimination and harassment) using the DHPS Complaint Ticket.

• DHPS/360 Workplace Solutions will respond without delay indicating receipt of the complaint.
• DHPS/360 will complete a pre-assessment of the formal complaint which will be provided to a Senior Administrator (along with the formal complaint) for consideration and determination of next steps as per the policy and policy procedures.

2. Safe disclosure reporting line

In addition to the contacting DHPS, the University has an anonymous safe disclosure reporting system. Reports of alleged discrimination and harassment can also be made online at Confidenceline or by phone at 1-844-966-3250. 

Reporting anonymously can assist the University in evaluating and informally intervening (preventative workshops, awareness and education, etc.); however, for a formal investigation to occur, the DHPS online complaint form is required wherein you must disclose your full name and submit a fulsome account of the situation.    

You are encouraged to provide your full name if a matter poses a serious threat to your health and safety, is potentially criminal in nature or where circumstances may lead University officials to suspect intervention and educational activities may not prevent the alleged discrimination and harassment from recurring.