Employers Due to Review Workplace Harassment and Violence Regulation in 2024

Employers are reminded that several of the requirements introduced by the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention (WHVP) Regulations are coming up for review and renewal starting in 2024.

The review process is mandatory for all employers who are subject to the regulations, and it’s a great opportunity to assess how well your current system is working and to make improvements as needed.

To help employers meet their federal obligations, THRC has provided additional resources and information below.

The Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations introduced several measures that need to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. This work must be done jointly with a WHVP policy committee, workplace health and safety committee, or health and safety representative, depending on the size and structure of your workforce (see Regulations for details). If you implemented your WHPV strategy and policy when the regulations came into force in 2021, your renewal dates are fast approaching.

• Policy: The Regulations compel federally regulated employers to develop and implement a work place harassment and violence prevention policy. The policy must be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at least once every three years. Employers who implemented their policy in 2021 will be due to review the policy in 2024.

• Work Place Assessment: Under the Regulations, employers are required to carry out a work place assessment to identify risk factors that could lead to increased occurrences of work place harassment and violence. The assessment must be reviewed every three years and updated if necessary. Employers who last conducted a work place risk assessment in 2021 will be due to repeat this process in 2024.
  • Did you know? There are several circumstances that could trigger a review of your work place assessment outside of the regular 3-year review cycle, such a change to risk factors or to the preventative measures you developed as a response. Consult the Regulations to make sure you understand what does and doesn’t trigger a review.

• Preventative Measures: Whenever a new risk factor is identified through a work place assessment, the employer has 6 months to develop and implement preventative measures to mitigate it.

• Training: Under the Regulations, employers must develop or identify training on work place harassment and violence prevention. The training must be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at least once every three years. Most employers will be due to review their work place harassment and violence prevention training program in 2024.
  • The designated recipient at your organization must receive training before assuming their duties. They need to renew their training at least once every three years after that.
  • The employer and any employees whose employment started before the Regulations came into force in January 2021 were required to complete training within one year of that date. They must renew their training at least once every three years after that, or any time the training program changes.
  • Employees you have hired since the Regulations came into force are required to the complete the training within three months of starting their employment. They’ll have to renew the training at least once every three years after that. They may also need to renew training if the training program changes or if they move into a new role with an increased risk of work place harassment and violence.
  • Make sure you keep track of your employees’ start dates and training dates so you know when it’s time for them to renew their training.

Links to resources:

THRC helpful guide on this regulation

Read the Regulation

If you have questions about any of the resources or the requirements, please contact us: [email protected].