Building a foundation of respect - Part 29 | BuildForce Canada

Building a foundation of respect - Part 29

Welcome to the BuildForce blog on Respectful Workplaces! Here we explore issues and provide advice, research, tools, and checklists – everything our industry needs to create respectful and inclusive workplaces where everyone can succeed. Who will benefit? Leaders, managers, HR staff, on-site workers and anyone who wants to understand how to create and support a Respectful and Inclusive Workplace.

Question of the month

(Each month our feature question explores the content and use of the BuildForce Canada Respectful Workplace Policy Framework and Implementation Guide. This tool is a free template designed to assist organizations in creating and implementing policies that support a respectful and inclusive workplace. This tool is one of three in the BuildForce Canada Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Toolkit.)

Does your organization have an implementation plan for its respectful workplace policy?

To create a respectful workplace, an organization's respectful workplace policy must have an effective implementation plan. The FREE BuildForce Policy Framework and Implementation Guide can be adapted to your organization's particular circumstances. See for yourself. Download them today at buildforce.ca/respect.Organizations are responsible for not only responding to discrimination and harassment, but preventing them from occurring in the first place. Organizations cannot claim to be unaware or choose to be unaware of discrimination and harassment.

In order for an organization to create a workplace culture that prevents discrimination and harassment, a respectful workplace policy is a necessary first step. It must be effectively implemented, however, to ensure the workplace culture reflects the intentions of the respectful workplace policy.

The BuildForce Respectful Workplace Policy Framework Implementation Guide helps organizations to implement the BuildForce Respectful Workplace Policy Framework by including key factors for successful implementation.

The Implementation Guide...

  • places responsibility for ensuring the successful implementation of the Respectful Workplace Policy Framework with management
    • Management sets the tone and the example for implementing the Respectful Workplace Policy Framework.
  • re-iterates the organization’s commitment to respect and inclusion as a core value
    • Researchers have found that employees must know that respect and inclusion is not just another program; it is a core value of the organization.
  • emphasizes that the Respectful Workplace Policy Framework must be widely communicated through every communication channel, ensuring clarity, visibility and accessibility
  • stresses the commitment to confidentiality in all areas of the implementation such as reporting incidents of harassment, or collecting personal data for the purposes of eliminating discrimination
  • addresses other key areas for successful implementation such as widespread training of all employees, reporting disrespectful behaviour, conflict resolution, and measuring the success of the implementation of the Respectful Workplace Policy Framework and identifying areas for improvement

For more info:

Join the conversation: Is your organization making efforts to implement a respectful workplace initiative?

Our Next Installment: Does your organization assign specific employees to be responsible for the effective implementation of its respectful workplace policy?

Previous Installment: Does your organization have fair practices in all areas to support a respectful and inclusive workplace?

Read from the beginning. Click here to start at Part 1.

To meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Canadian construction and maintenance industry must be able to recruit and retain workers with a diversity of backgrounds such as Indigenous people, women, immigrants, and young workers. This means building respectful, safe and inclusive workplaces where all workers can succeed. Some of these challenges are: A quarter of a million skilled workers retiring over the next decade. Increased globalization demands more awareness of different cultures. The changing needs of a changing workforce. Increased demands for corporate social responsibility such as fairness and equity.

The BuildForce Canada Online Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Toolkit includes: The Respectful Workplace Online Self-Assessment Tool: to assist organization leadership in assessing their current situation and identifying where they may need to make changes; The Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Online Training Course: to train workers on how to create and support a respectful and inclusive workplace; and The Respectful Workplace Policy Framework and Implementation Guide: to assist organizations in creating and implementing a policy that supports a respectful and inclusive workplace. --- All the resources you need to create and support a respectful and inclusive workplace!

Status of Women Canada logo
This project has been funded by Status of Women Canada.