Released on August 23, 1996
Chief commissioner Donna Greschner of the Saskatchewan Human RightsCommission today announced the settlement of five complaints alleging
sexual harassment in employment, one of which also alleged racial
harassment.
"Harassment in the workplace is still far too common," Greschner said.
"Employers should be aware they can be held responsible when employees
are harassed because of ancestry, gender or any other prohibited ground
of discrimination.
"It is also important for people to know that the Saskatchewan Human
Rights Code protects people from retaliation. It is illegal to
retaliate against individuals because they have made a complaint under
the Code or because they have co-operated in a human rights
investigation."
Three of the complaints were against Perth's (Brandon) Ltd. and Gordon
Cookson. Darlene Coghill, Margaret Lizuck and Cheryl Wowk-Booth
alleged that they were sexually harassed verbally by Cookson, their
supervisor, while employed at Perth's Services and Cleaners in Moose
Jaw. Lizuck and Wowk-Booth also alleged sexual harassment of a
physical nature.
The respondents agreed to pay the complainants amounts ranging from
$650 to $4,400, less statutory deductions, for lost employment income
and benefits, and amounts ranging from $2,000 to $2,500 for injury to
feelings and self-respect. In addition, Perth's (Brandon) Ltd. agreed
to give each of its Saskatchewan employees a copy of its sexual
harassment prevention policy and a copy of the commission's sexual
harassment prevention brochure.
Dora Newman, a woman of Aboriginal ancestry, filed a discrimination
complaint against Canadian Turbo Inc. She alleged that her co-workers
at Northside Turbo in Saskatoon made derogatory jokes and comments
about Aboriginal people and sexually harassed her verbally. In the
settlement negotiated by the commission, Canadian Turbo Inc. agreed to
pay the complainant $2,500 as compensation for injury to feelings and
self-respect.
Carmen Chomiak, in her complaint against Jim and Jaklen Holdings Ltd.,
alleged that she was verbally and physically sexually harassed by
manager Jim Tomas throughout her employment as a hostess at Tomas Cook
Family Restaurant on 8th Street in Saskatoon. In a related complaint
against Jim Tomas and Sako's Holdings Ltd., Chomiak alleged that the
respondents launched a defamation action against her because she made a
sexual harassment complaint under the Code.
The respondents agreed, in settling both complaints, to pay Chomiak
$5,000 compensation for injury to feelings and self-respect and for
legal costs incurred because of the defamation action. The respondents
also agreed to provide copies of the commission's sexual harassment
prevention brochure to all current employees and all new employees
hired within three years.
All the complaints were settled without any admission of liability by
the respondents.
In 1995-96, the commission received 45 sexual harassment complaints, of
which 41 were employment-related. Sexual harassment complaints made up
20 per cent of the 221 complaints filed with the commission.
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For more information contact:
Donna Greschner
Chief Commissioner
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 933-5952
Donalda Ford
Director
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
Regina
Phone (306) 787-2530