CANADA
A taskforce of 12 Canadian heads of Federal Departments is calling for “respectful conduct” to be a condition of appointment for all senior Public Servants, with harassment the grounds for discipline, or even dismissal.
The recommendation by the Deputy Ministers is part of an implementation plan drafted for the Clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick (pictured).
The plan, Safe Workspaces, outlines ways to root out harassment, incivility, bullying and any other inappropriate behaviour in the Federal Public Service.
Mr Wernick has invited PS staff to comment on the plan which will be rolled out over the next six months to beef up harassment prevention and provide a guide on how better to respond to cases and support victims.
“Our work on this issue must continue,” Mr Wernick said.
“These proposed actions are one step towards a harassment-free workplace.
“I see this report as the start of an ongoing dialogue,” he said.
The plan argues that much of the responsibility for eliminating harassment rests with the leadership, which sets the tone and expectations for behaviour.
Mr Wernick said spelling it out as a condition of employment in letters of offer to executives would certainly drive home that ending harassment is a management priority — and any breaches will be punished.
But the fact that a dozen of the s top PS leaders felt they had to emphasise creating a ‘respectful workplace’ in letters of offer raises questions about the culture of the Public Service, where harassment has persisted despite the many rules, policies and recourse mechanisms in place to stop it.
Public Servants have long complained there are no visible consequences for harassment or bad behaviour, which the report said erodes employees’ trust in the system.
It also noted that managers needed to feel they had the support of senior management if they were to ntervene in cases of harassment.
Ottawa, 19 August, 2018
