Workplace Safety Supports, Resources, and Disclosure

When to Seek Support

Given that harassment and discrimination can come in many forms, toxic workplaces can present in overt or subtle ways, and harm can occur on a spectrum of severity – it is important to know that any and all concerns about your safety in the workplace are valid and should be taken seriously.

If you’re feeling unsafe in the workplace, you should seek support.

(Waterloo Photos, n.d.)

Safety means something different for everyone, and people, places, and environments can impact us differently depending on our social location. At the end of the day, it is the impact on you that matters. You do not need to determine whether workplace behaviour is technically harassment to access support. If you are experiencing physical, emotional, or psychological harm of any kind in the workplace, that is never okay, and help is available to you.

Sometimes sharing your experience of harassment in the workplace can be difficult and uncomfortable, and depending on the nature of your situation, the act of sharing may itself feel unsafe. It is important to know that you have agency – both with respect to how you respond to harassment and when and where you seek support.

The following content outlines your options and some of the resources and supports available if you ever experience harassment/discrimination in the workplace.

How Much Should I Share?

If something makes you feel unsafe in the workplace, do your best to document the incident(s), privately, for your own records (e.g., noting the date and time, location, perpetrator(s) and witnesses, and any other details that seem important). Not only will this help to resolve your case, should you choose to seek support, but it can also help prepare you to share your experience with someone you trust when you feel ready. If the thought of sharing your experience feels challenging, you may also consider writing a script to help you prepare for a conversation.

Again, sharing can be difficult, but it is always on your terms. Not only is it your decision if, and when, you share your experience, but it is also your choice as to how much you share. You can disclose as much or as little detail as you wish, you can share names or keep those involved anonymous, and you only need to discuss your feelings if you feel comfortable doing so.

Your Privacy and Confidentiality

Workplace harassment is often a sensitive situation. Sharing your experience may not always feel safe, and you may be worried about your confidentiality, or losing control over your situation, if you choose to seek help. Remember: you have a choice about who you share with, and where you seek support. While confidentiality may not always be guaranteed when you seek support, the options outlined next will offer some considerations about protecting your privacy when disclosing your experience of harassment in the workplace.

If you wish to disclose information you do not wish to be shared, consider that varying support services at the University of Waterloo have slightly different layers of confidentiality depending on the service being provided. More information is provided on this in the “Who Should I Share With?" section below.

Who Should I Share With?

If you ever feel unsafe in the workplace, you have many options, supports, and resources to consider.

Additional Resources and Supports

Remember that you have agency and choice regardless of the nature of your situation. If the options above still feel limiting, or if you are still unsure about who to reach out to for support, the following are a list of resources that will hopefully provide a greater landscape of options for a safe(r) space for you to share your experience and/or seek help if you need it. You are not limited to supports at the University of Waterloo.