February 8 2023
A new initiative to provide New Brunswick workers with free legal advice on workplace sexual harassment was launched today.
The Workplace Sexual Harassment Lawyer Referral Program is the first of its kind in the province. It offers clients an initial two-hour consultation with a lawyer who will review their situation and explore options of recourse and potential outcomes. The lawyers are trained in such matters and can help workers understand their rights.
“If you need answers to questions about the complaint process for workplace sexual harassment, or how to report it, the lawyer referral program is a free service to access help and legal advice,” said Amber Chisholm, associate director at the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB). “This project hopes to bridge gaps in access to legal advice for employees who want to know more about their rights and their options when navigating these often sensitive and difficult situations.”
The program is part of a joint initiative of PLEIS-NB and the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission called Safer Places NB, which is a five-year project funded by Justice Canada to help employers and employees address and prevent workplace sexual harassment.
“Navigating any legal process can be a worrying experience to some,” said commission director Marc-Alain Mallet. “We want people to know there is help if they feel they are subject to sexual harassment in the workplace.”
To qualify for the program, a person must be 16 or older and have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work in New Brunswick. People can enrol by filling out a form on the Safer Places NB website or calling the referral line at 1-888-236-2444. Qualifying clients will receive a list of participating lawyers and a voucher to use with the lawyer of their choice. More information on the program is available online.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amber Chisholm, Interim Executive Director, Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, amber.chisholm@gnb.ca.
Emilia Gutierrez, Education Officer, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 506-453-2301, emilia.gutierrez@gnb.ca
March 2, 2022
SaferPlacesNB.ca, an educational website designed to assist employers and employees to better address and prevent sexual harassment, was launched virtually today.
The website was created by the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) as part of a 5-year project funded by Justice Canada.
It was created to help employers meet the regulation enacted in 2019 under the New Brunswick Health and Safety Act that mandates employers to establish policies and conduct training on workplace violence and harassment, including sexual harassment. These new requirements must be followed or organizations risk fines, charges and even jail time if offences occur.
Safer Places NB evolved from consultations with stakeholders throughout the province on the issue of workplace sexual harassment. A special focus of the project was to understand and support the needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the workplace.
“Our consultations with employers revealed that many were unaware of their legal obligations with regard to preventing and addressing sexual harassment,” said Amber Chisholm, interim executive director of PLEIS-NB. “Employees who had experienced workplace sexual harassment told us they felt unsure and fearful about what to do next.”
She said the goal of the website is to assist employers and employees to better address and prevent sexual harassment in a holistic, collaborative and trauma-informed fashion.
“Any type of harassment anywhere has devastating effects for all involved,” said Marc-Alain Mallet, director of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission. “With changing workforce demographics, our workplaces are much more diverse. This comprehensive and accessible resource will help employers focus on the well-being of their employees by creating and maintaining respectful and inclusive work environments.”
People can register for the workplace sexual harassment training at https://saferplacesnb.ca/en/register/. Training options include a facilitated Zoom workshop, or a self-guided e-learning course complemented by various educational tools, such as a workplace harassment policy guide and a template for employees to report harassment to their employers.
"PLEIS-NB and the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission would like to thank Justice Canada for the funding to make this project possible and invite New Brunswickers to register for the free training available on SaferPlacesNB.ca to participate in positive conversations that help create safer workplaces in the province,"
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amber Chisholm, Interim Executive Director, Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick, amber.chisholm@gnb.ca.
Emilia Gutierrez, Education Officer, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, 506-453-2301, emilia.gutierrez@gnb.ca
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Amber Chisholm, Acting Associate Director of the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB), spoke with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on March 31st, 2021. The Department of Justice Canada will be providing funding for the Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment of Vulnerable Populations project.
To read more of the news release, please visit: Government of Canada supports initiative to address workplace sexual harassment and improve access to justice in New Brunswick
“Thanks to funding from Justice Canada, the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB), in collaboration with the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission (NBHRC), is pleased to formally launch our five-year initiative to address and prevent sexual harassment in New Brunswick workplaces.”
View Egale Canada Human Rights Trust’s webcast episode “How Legal Professionals Can Promote Access to Justice For LGBTQI2S People.” The episode discusses topics surrounding homophobia and transphobia in law and in legal culture. Amber specifically discusses how sexual harassment resources are often not familiar with the nuances that LGBTQI2S people experience. Sexual harassment is not only a product of sexual desire; it includes a disregard for boundaries, invasive questions, as well as other inappropriate interactions.
Featuring Amber Chisholm, Acting Associate Director of Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB), and Marc-Allain Mallet, Director of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission.