Reminder: Update your Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policies

On June 19th, 2012, Bill 33, known as Toby’s Act, received Royal Assent. The Bill amends Ontario’s Human Rights Code to prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. This amendment will help to protect transsexuals, transvestites, cross dressers, and other individuals who do not identify with the gender identity assigned to them at birth against discriminatory treatment.

Employers are thus reminded to update their workplace discrimination and harassment policies to include gender identity and gender expression as grounds protected by the Code.