Everyone deserves a safe and respectful workplace.
Before you submit a complaint, review the definition and information outlined below. This will help you understand what applies under the Harassment in the Workplace regulations and help guide you through the complaint process.
Definition
Workplace harassment means a single significant occurrence or a course of repeated occurrences of objectionable or unwelcome conduct, comment or action in the workplace including bullying that, whether intended or not, degrades, intimidates or threatens, and includes all of the following, but does not include any action taken by an employer or supervisor relating to the management and direction of an employee or the workplace:
- workplace harassment or bullying that is based on any personal characteristic, including, but not limited to a characteristic referred to in clauses 5(1)(h) to (v) of the Human Rights Act,
- inappropriate sexual conduct, including, but not limited to, sexual solicitation or advances, sexually suggestive remarks or gestures, circulating or sharing inappropriate images or unwanted physical contact.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers are required to take steps to prevent and address harassment in the workplace, as outlined in the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations - Part 27: Harassment in the Workplace. All Nova Scotia workplaces must:
- Have a harassment policy
- Include a clear definition and statement of commitment
- Provide employee training, including how to recognize and respond to harassment
- Include a process for reporting harassment
- Ensure a fair and clear investigation process
- Review the policy regularly
If you believe your employer has not met these responsibilities, you can report this to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division by completing the Workplace Harassment Complaint Form below.
Understanding the Role of OHS Division
It is the primary responsibility of the employer, not the OHS Division, to determine whether harassment allegations are true or false. The OHS Division is responsible to determine if the workplace has met the requirements of the Harassment in the Workplace regulations and take appropriate action in cases of non-compliance. The Division can respond to alleged incidents of harassment or reports of non-compliance that occur after September 1, 2025, the effective date of the new regulations.
This means an OHS Officer will determine if the employer has:
- A harassment prevention policy
- Training on the policy and how to prevent, recognize, and respond to harassment
- A process to investigate allegations of harassment
You can ask an OHS Officer to address specific concerns about your harassment complaint; this requires your name to be provided to the employer.
- The OHS Officer will not give your name to anyone in your workplace
- The OHS Officer will contact the employer to identify whether the required policy, procedures, and training are in place for all employees
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, the OHS Officer will not ask questions pertaining to your specific harassment complaint or investigation.
Submit a Complaint
Workplace Harassment Complaint Form
For More Information
If you have reviewed the information above and need further clarification about the complaint process, please contact the Safety Branch at 1-800-9LABOUR (1-800-952-2687) or email SafetyBranch@novascotia.ca.
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