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An action or a decision that treats a person or a group badly for reasons such as their race, age, or disability (CHRC, n.d.). The reasons are protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act and include the following:
Race
Religious beliefs
Colour
Gender
Gender Identity
Gender Expression
Physical disability
Mental disability
Age
Ancestry
Place of origin
Marital Status
Source of income
Family status
Sexual orientation
Diversity
Diversity refers to the variety of differences and similarities or dimensions among people, or the representation of multiple identity groups and their cultures. Examples include races, cultures and religions; abilities and disabilities; ages, marital statuses, family statuses and sources of income; genders, gender identifications, gender expressions and sexual orientations; and backgrounds and experiences. Simply put, diversity is all of the ways in which people differ (Bow Valley College, 2018).
Harassment
According to the Alberta Human Rights Act (2017), harassment occurs when an employee is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct because of the above protected grounds. Alberta human rights law prohibits workplace harassment based on these grounds. The behaviour need not be intentional in order to be considered harassment.
Inclusion
Inclusion refers to how diversity is leveraged to create a fair, equitable, healthy, and high performing organization or community where all individuals are respected, feel engaged and motivated, and where their contributions toward meeting organizational and societal goals are valued and recognized (Bow Valley College, 2018).
Respectful workplace
A workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment. The Bow Valley College (2018) Respectful Workplace Policy defines a respectful workplace as “one in which everyone is able to perform with personal and professional dignity. This includes embracing diversity and actively practicing inclusion with the intention of ensuring everyone is valued for their role and their contribution to the organization, as well as ensuring the health and safety of all.”
References
Alberta Human Rights Commission. (2017). Sample harassment prevention policy. Retrieved from
