The Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic is introducing a new program that will help raise awareness of workplace sexual harassment and help those who have experienced it.
Thanks to funding from the federal government, the legal clinic has launched the new Sexual Harassment in the Workplace initiative.
According to Project Lead Lawyer Carmen Titus, the initiative will have two main areas of focus including implementing a program designed to increase public awareness and knowledge around sexual harassment in the workplace. This will include seminars for employers, union leaders and anyone who may have been impacted by harassment in the workplace.
Titus said the details for the public engagement sessions are still being finalized and the process has been difficult due to the pandemic. However, she said it will most likely be done through Zoom.
"My preference is in person. With this subject you kind of want to have a delicate hand with it, whether it's an employer or employee," she said. "But, you do what you can."
Titus said one of the main messages she hopes to get out there to the public is that sexual harassment in the workplace is more common than most people think.
"I want anyone to know that they can call me to find out where to go from there. Or if someone is experiencing it, what they can do and that they're not alone. Regardless of the workplace, all employers and their governing bodies are responsible for ensuring that they provide a safe environment," she explained.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. Titus said can range from inappropriate comments, jokes, or touching, to criminal behaviours such as being stalked, flashed, having one’s clothing pulled down, or unwanted kissing and groping.
The Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic offers a variety of legal services to low-income residents of Chatham-Kent. Through the new initiative, the clinic will also be providing access to free legal education and advice to anyone who has been or believes they've experienced workplace sexual harassment, as well as possible legal representation.
Titus said she assures everyone that conversations are kept confidential.
"When they're calling me... they're calling an employee of the Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic. My job is specifically sexual harassment in the workplace. I might have to take some information for our client management, but everything that they tell me remains with me," she said.
According to Titus, there can be unique hurdles when it comes to dealing with workplace harassment, with people often times being hesitant to report it.
"A lot of people are not wanting to come forward for fear of reprisal, for fear of people labelled as oversensitive or not being taken seriously by their coworkers or managers," she said. "However, the key one is retribution. They're afraid of that. "
Titus said anyone who wants to learn more about the inactive or get legal advice should contact her directly by emailing tituscSHIW@lao.on.ca or calling 226-881-0874.
"We need to change everybody's mind, the employers, the managers, everybody," said Titus. "They need to take this seriously."