Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies

A right to be safe and secure

Violence in the workplace presents a risk to the well being of Sunnybrook staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and visitors. It is everyone's responsibility to prevent violence in the workplace. At Sunnybrook, we strive to create a positive environment with mutual respect and open communication.

In response to Bill 168 (Act to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace and other matters) Sunnybrook has updated its violence and harassment policies and programs, employee reporting and incident investigation procedures, an emergency response procedure for violent events and a process to deal with incidents, complaints and threats of violence.

Types of abuse include:

• Physical
• Sexual
• Psychological
• Verbal/Bullying
• Cyber Bullying
• Domestic

The hospital has related policies including:

Discrimination and Harassment

• Sunnybrook is committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination, systemic discrimination, harassment, and where the dignity and value of every individual is respected.

Working Alone

• Sunnybrook has established specific practices and procedures to minimize the risks of injury or violence to staff who, due to the nature of their work, are required to work alone and may require emergency assistance during the course of working alone.

Code White

• This policy provides guidelines for implementing a patient focused, therapeutic model for interacting with an actual or potential violent or out-of-control person.

Internal Responsibility System

• Sunnybrook supports a health and safety system with defined and established roles and where all employees are responsible for health and safety in accordance with their position in the hospital and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Work Refusal

• Sunnybrook follows the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements for work stoppages when an employee has reason to believe their health and safety is in danger.

RESPECT Program

• It is the policy of Sunnybrook that together we will create working environments that welcome the diversity of our workforce and are built on a foundation of respectful behaviour. This ensures that staff, physicians, volunteers and students feel included, experience the reality of belonging, and are able to fulfill their potential at Sunnybrook.

Whistleblower

• Sunnybrook is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethics among its Board, clinicians, employees, students, volunteers and contractors. Our Whistleblower policy is specifically directed at conduct that could have a negative impact resulting from an improper clinical practice or an improper diversion of the hospital's resources. The purpose of the policy is to promote ethical practices by providing an open avenue of communication through which individuals can raise good faith concerns regarding improper conduct without fear of reprisal.

  Reports can be submitted through Clearview Connects, an external third-party provider, 24 hours/7 days per week at:

  Clearview Connects
  Online: clearviewconnects.com
  Phone: 1-866 876 0010
  Mail: P.O. Box 11017
  Toronto, ON M1E 1N0