How do I know if what I am experiencing is harassment?
If you are experiencing behaviour that is having a negative impact on you, that is a problem. It is important that you get some help whether the behaviour has been identified as harassment or not.
- You can get help from the Conflict Management and Human Rights Office (CMAHRO) or from Counselling Services.
- If you are feeling unsafe, contact the Safety Office or Campus Police.
If you want to know more about harassment and what it is, you can also visit the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s website. They have some great e-Learning modules that can help you learn more e.g. Human Rights 101.
CMAHRO has also created a number of presentations that provide more details about harassment, discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice. They describe what these are and how they can negatively impact our campus.
I heard someone mention the term “poisoned environment”. What does this mean?
A poisoned environment (also known as a hostile environment) is an environment in which you find it difficult to work, learn or live comfortably. It can be created by comments or behavior that make you feel demeaned or disrespected.
If your environment is interfering with your ability to work or learn, it is important that you seek help.
- You can get help from the Conflict Management and Human Rights Office or from Counselling Services.
- If you are feeling unsafe, contact the Safety Office or Campus Police.
If you want to know more about poisoned environment and what it is, you can also visit the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s website. They have some great e-Learning modules that can help you learn more e.g. Human Rights 101.
The Conflict Management and Human Rights Office has also created a number of presentations that provide more details about harassment, discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice. They describe what these are and how they can negatively impact our campus.
What will happen if I ask to meet with someone at CMAHRO?
When you arrange to meet with someone from our office the first thing we will do is listen. After listening to your concerns, our staff will share information about policy and resources available at the University of Waterloo. They will also discuss what options are available to address your concerns either formally or informally.
Often people are afraid that when they come to us, they will lose control of the situation. It is important to understand that you only need to share with us the information that you feel comfortable sharing. In fact, you don’t even need to tell us your name if you don’t want to.
We will explain what options and resources are available to you, but you get to decide what happens next.
At the end of your meeting we want to ensure that you:
- Have been heard and understood;
- Are aware of the policy on campus that is applicable to your concern;
- Are aware of different options available, both formal and informal;
- Are aware of the different services available at the Conflict Management and Human Rights Office;
- Are aware of other applicable resources on campus;
- Understand that the Conflict Management and Human Rights Office can provided direction regarding who would be responsible for addressing your complaint (department/faculty); and
- Are aware that we are available to meet with you as many times as necessary to accomplish the above.
I am afraid that by addressing the issue, I will only make it worse.
This is a very common concern. Fear and uncertainty often keep people from addressing negative behaviour. As people gather information and gain clarity about their rights and the resources available to them, they often find that they become more comfortable with the thought of seeking help.
If you are concerned that you will experience reprisal for coming forward, it is important that you know that the University of Waterloo and others take incidents of reprisal seriously. Both the Ontario Human Rights Code and UW’s Policy 33:Ethical Behavior protect you from reprisal.
When should I contact CMAHRO?
Contact CMAHRO as soon as you feel like something is not right in your workplace, residence or learning environment. An early response increases the chance of addressing the issue in a way that minimizes relationship damage.