The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre is working with several partners across the province to kickstart an initiative to help create sexual harassment-free workspaces.
The agency is working with the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) and Justice Canada to create a caring and inclusive work culture, which is an important primary defence against sexual harassment.
The Alberta-wide, three-year campaign called Moments Matter celebrates workplace cultures that promote psychological safety, success and career growth and an effective response to sexual harassment.
“Rather than focusing on what not to do, this campaign is showing people what to do,” said CASASC executive director Patricia Arango. “This campaign showcases the powerful effects that a positive work culture can have on individual and organizational well-being and it illustrates how easy it can be to create those cultures, one moment at a time.”
As organizations continue to address the health and safety challenges of COVID-19 and look for ways to stay competitive, the campaign inspires greater productivity, teamwork and loyalty.
“We invite individuals and organizations from across the province to join our collective effort to grow positive workplace cultures that support equity, diversity and inclusion, keep workers healthy and safe and help stop sexual harassment,” said Arango.
According to a recent Leger survey, in Alberta, one in five (22 per cent) workers have been sexually harassed at work and one in four have witnessed it, while 42 per cent of people have heard of it happening.
CASASC education and community relations manager Carlia Schwab explained that CASASC actively supports the moments matter initiative and how it shines a light on how important caring and inclusive workplace culture is as a primary defence against sexual harassment.
“Sexual harassment is less likely to occur in a positive and respectful workplace environment,” said Schwab.