| As I am sure you are aware, on December 9th, 2009, | | | | relevant and most importantly, effective! |
| the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 168, the | | | | From April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, Ontario Ministry |
| Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act | | | | of Labour Inspectors made 417 field visits and issued |
| (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace). | | | | 351 orders related to violence in the workplace. (MOL, |
| Bill 168 will come into effect on June 15, 2010 and you | | | | 2009). |
| need to be prepared for it! Right now there are | | | | The benefits to your staff of a professional training |
| thousands of Ontario workplaces scrambling to write | | | | program are numerous: |
| policies and procedures and looking for credible | | | | • Increased employee confidence, in themselves |
| companies to provide training for their valued staff. | | | | and the organization that they work for |
| A quick summary of this Bill states that employers | | | | • Increased employee self esteem |
| need to prepare by having a workplace violence and | | | | • Better interactions among staff |
| harassment policy, which most Ontario workplaces | | | | • Safer workplace |
| probably have. Employers also need to assess the | | | | • Greater productivity |
| risks to their valued staff from workplace violence, | | | | • A reduction in the potential for violence in the |
| which most probably haven't done. Companies are | | | | workplace |
| also tasked with providing staff with realistic skills | | | | • A reduction in grievances |
| through proper training. Skills that will reduce their risk | | | | • Fewer occupational health claims |
| of violence by ensuring that staff can deal with violent | | | | • Minimizing legal costs associated with litigation |
| acts successfully and can get away safely, if the need | | | | and legislative non compliance |
| arises. | | | | • An enhanced corporate image |
| Bill 168 will require detailed procedures, protocols and | | | | • The very strong possibility of a reduction in |
| specialized training for the risks involved to your staff | | | | absenteeism |
| from potentially violent clients, co-workers and others | | | | And reduced organizational and supervisory liability! |
| in the public. Most importantly, it will require you to | | | | Our simple advice is this. Do not wait until a |
| prove "due diligence" in providing your people with | | | | preventable incident happens at your workplace. |
| realistic training skills. | | | | Take the time to investigate and implement |
| Our programs have been implemented in a number of | | | | professional, realistic and relevant training for your |
| organizations and have been proven to be realistic, | | | | valued staff! |