Executive Council
March 30, 2015

Supporting Public Service Employees

Government Commits to Review its Respectful Workplace Policies

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced an external review of the Provincial Government’s current respectful workplace and harassment policies of government.

“Harassment in the workplace cannot be tolerated. As an employer, the Provincial Government strives to create a work environment for its employees where they feel safe and free from harassment. Through the Human Resource Secretariat and the Public Service Commission, there are policies and learning resources to support our employees through education and training related to harassment and discrimination. We recognize that it is critical and necessary to ensure our policies are up-to-date and relevant for our public service employees. That’s why we will be engaging an external consultant to review the current policies related to respectful workplace and harassment.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Human Resource Secretariat supports the policy through ongoing learning and development opportunities available to government employees and managers. These include a resource guide for managers to provide a harassment free workplace, as well as various resolution options for all employees. A partnership also exists with the Public Service Commission under its Respectful Workplace Program.

“We value a work environment that is healthy and respectful, free of unwanted stressors for employees such as those associated with workplace harassment. Our current Harassment and Discrimination-Free Workplace Policy, which provides guidelines for managers to ensure employees are aware of the policy and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment, was amended in fall 2011. We look forward to working with the external consultant to ensure our policy continues to be responsive to the needs of our employees.”
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, Minister Responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat

Through the Human Resource Secretariat and the Public Service Commission, the Provincial Government is working to identify an external consultant and draft terms of reference.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has announced it will engage an external consultant to review the current respectful workplace and harassment policies of government.
• The current Harassment and Discrimination-Free Workplace Policy, which provides guidelines for managers to ensure employees are aware of the policy and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment, was amended in fall 2011.
• Through the Human Resource Secretariat and the Public Service Commission, the Provincial Government is working to identify an external consultant and draft terms of reference.

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Media contacts:

Heather Maclean Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca	Donna Ivey Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3551, 699-2402 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 728-4104 jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca

2015 03 30                      5:20 p.m.