Legal clinic launches sexual harassment education project

Legal Assistance of Windsor joined 19 other community legal clinics in Ontario Thursday to launch a project to help victims or potential victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Marion Overholt, LAW’S executive director, said the Sexual Harassment in the Workplace project will provide outreach, information and access to legal services to some of the most vulnerable, marginalized working people — those in precarious employment, newcomers to Canada and youth — free of charge.

“We’re very excited to be starting this program,” Overholt said.

She said employers have statutory obligations to adopt workplace sexual harassment policies, but sexual harassment in the workplace still impacts at least four per cent of Canadian women every year, often with devastating emotional and financial consequences.

Funded by the Department of Justice Canada, the project will help people understand exactly what sexual harassment is and what they can do about it if they see it or experience it.

“We think this is an important project because a lot of people, particularly in precarious employment, especially now with what’s happened with COVID, aren’t really aware of what their rights are,” Overholt said. “We want to work with people who are at risk of being sexually harassed at work, or maybe have had that experience.”

Sexual harassment takes many forms but can include unwelcome contact or closeness, remarks that include teasing, talk about sexual activities, leering, staring, unwelcome requests for dates, requests for sexual favours, sharing rumours of a sexual nature and displaying sexually offensive pictures or graffiti.

Overholt said a study a couple of years ago indicated half of participants in the survey had been a witness to an incident of sexual harassment at work, while it found 29 per cent of women and 17 per cent of men experienced inappropriate sexual behaviour at work.

“It is an issue that needs to be looked at,” she said.

We want to work with people who are at risk of being sexually harassed at work, or maybe have had that experience.

Two intake workers — one located in Leamington and the other in Windsor — will be available to offer legal advice and education and support, helping people reach services and legal resources to assist in regaining a sense of control and determine their next steps to safety.

Overholt said sometimes victims say they just want to get out of the situation, but often they want the behaviour stopped and to ensure other people aren’t subjected to it.

“Giving people that information means we’re giving them the option to decide what do they want to do or not do,” she said.

Call or text Legal Assistance of Windsor at 519-256-7831 for further information or advice.