Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Unit: Rights and Responsibilities
Section #1: Human Rights Investigation
Time: 2 double periods
Expectations:
Students will be expected to:
R3 demonstrate an understanding of the issues relating to confidentiality and the right to privacy, as
outlined in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
R4 demonstrate an understanding of work ethics and the responsible use of Information Technology
R5 demonstrate an understanding of the individual’s right to function in a climate free from abuse and
harassment
R6 demonstrate an understanding of relevant sections of the Employment Standards Act and Human Rights
Act
Assessment and Evaluation Strategies
 Questions, case study analysis and quizzes (formative and summative)
Human Rights Section – Table of Contents
1. Ontario Human Rights Code overview
2. Ontario Human Rights Code - Case Studies assignment
3. Ontario Human Rights Code – Case Studies (teacher answer key)
4. Workplace Issues – Human Rights
5. Your Human Rights on the Job assignment
6. Harassment Assignment
7. Talking About Harassment
8. What Is Workplace Harassment
9. Harassment Examples, You Be the Judge
10. Co-op Procedures for Dealing with Incidents of Harassment at the Worksite
11. Harassment in the Workplace
12. Sexual Harassment Case Studies assignment
13. Sexual Harassment Quiz
14. Sexual Harassment Quiz (teacher answer key)
15. Evaluation Checklist
Additional Resources:
 “Your Rights”, available from the Ontario Human Rights Commission and through the web-site:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca – Refer to Human Rights 101 video, which includes quizzes and tests.
Planning Notes:
 Familiarize yourself with the Ontario Human Rights Commission website: www.ohrc.on.ca
 Review “The Ontario Human Rights Code” and “Your Rights”
Accommodations:
 Students may be given more time and have someone help with the reading/explaining of the Human
Rights Code.
 Students could view online video of Human Rights 101 at www.ohrc.on.ca
Notes: Some of these assignments may be introduced in Pre-employment and then go into further detail
during the Integration classes.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.1
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Ontario Human Rights Code
The Ontario Human Rights Code provides protection from discrimination in five (5) areas of our lives. It states
that every person has a right to freedom from discrimination in the following:
Schools, hospitals, shops, restaurants, sports and recreation
1. Services, goods and facilities
organizations and facilities
The place where you live or want to live, whether you rent or own the
2. Occupancy of accommodation
premises
Whether written or oral agreements
3. Contracts
Including advertisements, application forms and job interviews, work
4. Employment
assignments, training and promotions
Such as Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation or United
5. Membership in vocational
Steelworkers
associations and trade unions
Canada is a country where freedom of expression is a right. However, by allowing the expression of
discriminatory behaviours and beliefs, we risk abusing the rights of others. Human Rights legislation protects
those rights in essential areas of our lives.
Prohibited Grounds of Discrimination: The Code recognizes that discrimination occurs most often because of
a person’s membership in a particular group in society. If, in any of the five social areas above, a person faces
discrimination on any of these grounds, then she/he is protected by the Code. These are the sixteen (16)
prohibited grounds for discrimination.
Common descent or external features such as skin colour, hair texture,
1. Race
facial characteristics
Family descent
2. Ancestry
Country or region
3. Place of origin
Associated with race
4. Colour
Social, cultural or religious practices drawn from a common past
5. Ethnic origin
Membership in a state or nation
6. Citizenship
Religion or faith
7. Creed
Discrimination can be sexual in nature, or because of gender or
pregnancy. This also includes the right to breastfeed in public areas or in
8. Sex
the workplace.
Includes lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or heterosexual
9. Sexual orientation
Physical disability or disfigurement caused by injury, illness or birth
defect (incl. diabetes, epilepsy, paralysis, amputation, lack of physical
10. Handicap
coordination, blindness or visual impairment, wheelchair)
18-65 years (employment); 16+ years (accommodation); 18+ years in all
11. Age
other areas
Including cohabitation, widowhood, separation
12. Marital status
The parent/child relationship
13. Family status
The status of living with a person on the same sex in a conjugal
14. Same sex partnership status
relationship outside of marriage
Provincial offences or pardoned federal offences (in employment)
15. Record of offences
In housing only
16. Receipt of public assistance
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EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITIED GROUNDS:

An organization that serves a group protected by the Code, such as religious, educational or social
institutions serving ethnic groups, people with disabilities, etc. may choose to employ only
members of that group.

An employer may choose to hire (nepotism) or not hire (anti-nepotism) family members.

Can discriminate on the basis of age, sex, record of offences or marital status if these are genuine
requirements of the job (e.g. shelter for battered women might only hire women; men’s locker
room attendant only males hired).
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
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Classroom Component Resource Binder
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Ontario Human Rights Code - Case Studies
Working with a partner or in a small group use the Ontario Human Rights code to answer the case
studies below:
a) Yes, No or Maybe whether the Ontario Human Rights Code has been violated. Include your reasons.
b) If Yes, indicate the “area” (one of 5) and the discrimination grounds (one of 16)
1. Anthony, who is 18 years old, has applied for a job as a clerk in a sporting goods store. The store
manager is impressed with Anthony’s maturity and ability and says that he will hire him, subject to
reference checks. On checking his references with a former employer, the manager found out that
Anthony was convicted of reckless driving several times when he was younger and calls to tell him
he will not be hired. Has the store manager violated Anthony’s human rights by refusing to hire
him?
2. Naomi and several of her friends play in a women’s hockey league at the local community centre.
Whenever they play, the male rink attendants never give them their full allotted ice time. The
attendants jeer every time one of the young women falls and there are often pin-up pictures of
women in the dressing rooms. Naomi has complained but the manager has done nothing, saying
that women should “stick to figure skating” and “leave hockey to boys.” Have the rink attendants
violated the young women’s human rights?
3. After years of fighting, Don’s parents are getting a divorce. Things are so tense that Don feels he
must live on his own if he is to successfully complete his high school year. He has been a good
student and stayed out of trouble. At 16, he has qualified for social assistance and has put in an
application at a rooming house near his school. The property manager refuses to rent Don a room
saying that he does not rent to “welfare kids”. Has the property manager violated Don’s human
rights?
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4. Cassandra and several black friends have gone to a local restaurant after school. They are laughing
and carrying on like others in the restaurant. Things start to get out of hand between their group
and several White students sitting at another table. Food is thrown and the groups exchange angry
remarks. When the restaurant staff asked Cassandra and her friends to leave the restaurant, they
feel angry and discriminated against. Has the restaurant staff violated the group’s human rights?
5. Last week, Maureen and her friend Sean organized a school group to raise funds for AIDS research.
Yesterday, they both found crudely-drawn cartoons making fun of gays and lesbians on their desks.
Last night, several students shouting anti-gay comments verbally attacked them on the street opposite
the school yard. Their teacher saw the cartoons and has heard rumours of the verbal attack, but feels
that nothing can be done because the attack took place off the school premises. Neither student has
complained to school officials. Have the students violated Maureen and Sean’s human rights?
6. A local optician’s office has an opening for a part-time receptionist. The position requires excellent
communication skills, as the person will answer customers’ telephone calls and receive patients
who enter the clinic. Michelle, who was born and raised in Quebec City, has applied for the job.
The owner does not hire her, because she feels customers may not understand Michelle because of
her French accent. Has the owner violated Michelle’s human rights?
7. Last Saturday, Michael and his friends attended a movie theatre they had never been to before.
The theatre staff told Michael, who requires a motorized wheelchair because he has muscular
dystrophy, that he would either have to transfer into a theatre seat or watch the movie from the
only area available for the wheelchair--in front of the first row of seats. When he complained about
this arrangement, the theatre staff told him he was entitled to the same service as everyone else - a
ticket and a seat to watch the movies. Has the movie theatre staff violated Michael’s human rights?
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.5
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS CODE (ANSWER KEY)
For each case study answer:
a) Yes, No or Maybe whether the Ontario Human Rights Code has been violated. Include your reasons.
b) if Yes, indicate the “area” (one of 5) and the discrimination grounds (one of 16)
1. Anthony, who is 18 years old, has applied for a job as a clerk in a sporting goods store. The store
manager is impressed with Anthony’s maturity and ability and says that he will hire him, subject to
reference checks. On checking his references with a former employer, the manager found out that
Anthony was convicted of reckless driving several times when he was younger and calls to tell him he
will not be hired. Has the store manager violated Anthony’s human rights by refusing to hire him?
Answer:
Yes, the store manager has violated Anthony’s human rights by not hiring him because although
Anthony is perfect for the job, he was not hired for something he had done a while ago that does
not really relate to this job he is applying for.
Area - Employment,
Discrimination Grounds - Record of Offences
2. Naomi and several of her friends play in a women’s hockey league at the local community centre.
Whenever they play, the male rink attendants never give them their full allotted ice time. The
attendants jeer every time one of the young women falls and there are often pin-up pictures of
women in the dressing rooms. Naomi has complained but the manager has done nothing, saying
that women should “stick to figure skating” and “leave hockey to boys.” Have the rink attendants
violated the young women’s human rights?
Answer:
Yes, the rink attendants have violated the young women’s human rights because they are
discriminating against women and stereotyping by saying men are better at hockey.
Area - Services, goods and facilities (recreation centres)
Discrimination Grounds - Sex
3. After years of fighting, Don’s parents are getting a divorce. Things are so tense that Don feels he
must live on his own if he is to successfully complete his high school year. He has been a good
student and stayed out of trouble. At 16, he has qualified for social assistance and has put in an
application at a rooming house near his school. The property manager refuses to rent Don a room
saying that he does not rent to “welfare kids”. Has the property manager violated Don’s human
rights?
Answer:
Yes, the property manager has violated Don’s human rights because he is stereotyping him as a
“welfare kid” and is discriminating against this group of kids. The property manager is judging Don
without even knowing his reasons for finding his own place.
Area - Accommodation
Discrimination Grounds - Family Status
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4. Cassandra and several Black friends have gone to a local restaurant after school. They are laughing
and carrying on like others in the restaurant. Things start to get out of hand between their group
and several White students sitting at another table. Food is thrown and the groups exchange angry
remarks. When the restaurant staff asked Cassandra and her friends to leave the restaurant, they
feel angry and discriminated against. Has the restaurant staff violated the group’s human rights?
Answer:
Yes, the restaurant staff has violated the group’s human rights because if they really did not mean to be
racist, they would have kicked out both groups, however, they only kicked out Cassandra and her friends.
Area - Services and Goods and Facilities (stores, schools, recreation centres)
Discrimination Grounds - Colour
5. Last week, Maureen and her friend Sean organized a school group to raise funds for AIDS research.
Yesterday, they both found crudely-drawn cartoons making fun of gays and lesbians on their desks.
Last night, several students shouting anti-gay comments verbally attacked them on the street
opposite the school yard. Their teacher saw the cartoons and has heard rumours of the verbal
attack, but feels that nothing can be done because the attack took place off the school premises.
Neither student has complained to school officials. Have the students violated Maureen and Sean’s
human rights?
Answer:
Yes, the students have violated Maureen and Sean’s human rights. They have a right to work on
behalf of any organization without harassment.
Area - Employment (including volunteer work, interviews, application forms, promotions)
Discrimination Grounds - Sexual Orientation
6.
A local optician’s office has an opening for a part-time receptionist. The position requires excellent
communication skills, as the person will answer customers’ telephone calls and receive patients
who enter the clinic. Michelle, who was born and raised in Quebec City, has applied for the job.
The owner does not hire her, because she feels customers may not understand Michelle because of
her French accent. Has the owner violated Michelle’s human rights?
Answer:
No, the owner has not violated Michelle’s human rights because he has a reason for not hiring her
and this reason will actually affect the owner’s business. He is just being honest with her and doing
what’s best for his business.
7. Last Saturday, Michael and his friends attended a movie theatre they had never been to before. The
theatre staff told Michael, who requires a motorized wheelchair because he has muscular dystrophy,
that he would either have to transfer into a theatre seat or watch the movie from the only area available
for the wheelchair--in front of the first row of seats. When he complained about this arrangement, the
theatre staff told him he was entitled to the same service as everyone else--a ticket and a seat to watch
the movies. Has the movie theatre staff violated Michael’s human rights?
Answer:
No, the movie theatre staff has not violated Michael’s human rights because he was served and
treated the same as everyone else. They had provided him with wheelchair accessibility.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.7
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Workplace Issues: Human Rights
Your Human Rights on the Job
Part of Canadian heritage includes the belief that everyone is born free and equal, although this belief
is not always reflected in daily life. Canadian law guarantees basic human rights, including the right to
be respected at all times. Canadians have the right not to be placed at a disadvantage based on factors
such as race, place of origin, religion, age, gender, marital or family status, or disability.
Everyone has the right to live and work in an environment that is free from such discrimination.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission administers the Canadian Human Rights Act, which applies to
industries under federal jurisdiction, such as air transport, radio and television broadcasting, banking,
and telecommunications. Each province and territory also has similar human rights legislation to
protect any person not covered against discrimination under the federal legislation.
Basically, every person in Canada has the right to
freedom from discrimination in areas such as:
services, goods and facilities; housing; contracts;
membership in vocational associations and craft
unions; employment.
Every individual has a responsibility to respect the
rights of others. Every employer has a
responsibility to stop or prevent discrimination in
the workplace. Every employee has the right to
lodge a complaint of discrimination and the
employer is expected to listen to and act on such
complaints. Human rights legislation incorporates many other aspects of employment, including
recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, promoting, apprenticeship terms, dismissals, and layoffs. Terms
and conditions of employment – for example, rates of pay, overtime, hours of work, vacation time,
shift work, discipline procedures, and performance evaluations – might also be included in this
legislation.
The law that guarantees basic human rights is The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Its purpose is
to state the rights of every Canadian citizen clearly so that these rights can be understood and protected by
the legal system. The Charter is entrenched in the Canadian constitution, which helps to protect these rights
from being abolished by federal or provincial legislation. Among the rights included in the Charter are the
rights to freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief opinion, and expression (including
the media); freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. Also discrimination based on race,
national or ethnic origin, colour religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability is prohibited under the
Charter.
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Classroom Component Resource Binder
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Assignment: “Your Human Rights on the Job”
Application
/22
1. What Canadian law guarantees basic human rights?
2. Google “Canadian Human Rights code” and list the 14 areas every person has a right to equal
treatment with respect to employment without discrimination or go to:
www.efc.ca/pages/law/ontario/H.19.sect.html - you will find the answer under Freedom From
Discrimination/employment sec 5.(1):
a)
c)
e)
g)
i)
k)
m)
b)
d)
f)
h)
j)
l)
n)
3. Describe one responsibility for the employer and one for the employee.
Employer –
Employee –
4. Describe what is meant by the following: (either by a Google search or with your own words)
a. Freedom of peaceful assembly –
b. Freedom of association –
c. Freedom of thought –
d. Freedom of expression –
e. Freedom of religion –
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Harassment Assignment
2 marks for each question
Thinking/Inquiry
/ 24
The Human Rights Code of Ontario says that every person is entitled to a workplace free from
harassment and discrimination. The Code applies to all workers in Ontario except those who work for
the federal government or in an industry regulated by the federal government.
Access the Internet site http://youth.ofl.ca. Select “Know Your Rights” tab at the top of the screen.
Then select “Anti-discrimination & Anti-harassment” and answer the following questions.
1. What is harassment?
2. What is racial harassment?
3. What is sexual harassment?
4. Does my employer have to do anything about harassment in the workplace? Explain.
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5. What if it is the employer doing the harassing?
6. What is discrimination?
7. What aspects of employment are covered by the Human Rights Code?
8. Are human rights just for visible minorities? Explain.
9. What do I do if I have a complaint?
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10.Can an employer pay women less than men? Explain.
11. Can I be fired without good reason? Explain.
12. What must my employer give me when I am fired or I quit?
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.12
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Talking About Harassment
This information contains information to help distinguish between workplace harassment and other
types of harassment.
What is Harassment? Someone is harassing you if:
 He/she is doing things to make you feel uncomfortable;
 He/she is saying things to make you feel uncomfortable;
 He/she is putting you at risk in some way
The harasser will pick anything that makes you seem different from him/her. You might be harassed
because of your:
 gender
 sexual preference
 race
 religious beliefs
 disability
 family
 age
 birth place
 looks
 political beliefs (including union activities)
You might be harassed just because the harasser doesn't get along with you. Someone might say that
you are "as blind as a bat" or "retarded." Comments like these can be harassment. There are different
kinds of harassment. Two common forms are sexual harassment and racial harassment.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted attention of a sexual nature, like remarks about your looks or
personal life. Sometimes these comments sound like compliments, but they make you feel uneasy.
Sexual harassment can include:
 degrading words or pictures (like graffiti, photos, or posters)
 physical contact of any kind
 sexual demands
Racial harassment is any action that expresses or promotes racial hatred and stereotypes. It can be
obvious or subtle. It can include:
 spoken or written putdowns
 gestures
 jokes
 other unwanted comments or acts
Racial harassment can be hidden in questions or remarks that seem positive. Here are some examples:
 "You aren’t very smart for an Asian girl."
 "Tell me what it's like to always have your head and hair covered."
 "Women from the Philippines are better at that than Canadian women."
 "Native people are so good at crafts."
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What is Workplace Harassment?
Workplace harassment is when someone harasses you while you are doing your job, or on your way to
or from work. A harasser can be anyone you come in contact with because of your work. That person
might be a:
 boss;
 coworker;
 supervisor;
 customer;
 manager;
 person in your union.
 Member of your board of directors;
 delivery person;
Harassment can happen anywhere in the workplace:
 in the lunchroom;
 in rest and washroom areas;
 in staff rooms;


on the production line;
in an office.
You might also be harassed outside of your workplace. It can happen at a Christmas party, on a
business trip, at a meeting at someone's home in a school or on a bus. Your employer is responsible for
any form of harassment that affects the workplace, and your work.
Sexual Harassment Is...
Sexual Harassment is any unwanted, uninvited remarks, gestures, sounds or actions of a sexual nature
that makes you feel unsafe, degraded or uncomfortable. It creates an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive school environment. Some examples are:









Unwanted, unwelcomed physical contact like touching, grabbing or patting
Rude jokes or suggestive remarks of a sexual nature
Demeaning nicknames like “chick,” “sexy,” “stud,” “babe”
Cat calls, rating or embarrassing whistles
Insulting remarks about sexual orientation
Bragging about sexual powers for others to hear
Intimidating hallway behaviours, such as physically blocking a person’s way or pinning someone
to a locker.
Name written on walls or desks – “for a good time, call___________.”
Stalking
Sexual Harassment Is Not...



A hug between friends
Mutual flirtation
Sincere and personal compliment
Jokes that degrade you, insistent request for dates, catcalls that cause you embarrassment rather than
pleasure, pictures scratched on bathroom doors - all of these can be harassing.
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For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
HARASSMENT EXAMPLES, YOU BE THE JUDGE...
Look at the examples below and determine if the following examples are a form of harassment, if so,
explain which form and why…
A female student who makes unwelcome advances toward a male student in her residence.
A student whose ex-boyfriend follows her to her apartment, waits in front of her classes, and calls her
constantly when she’s asked him not to.
A student who sends threatening emails to his teacher after receiving low marks on papers.
A supervisor frequently “jokes” to his foreign-born employees that if they don’t like the rules here,
they can “go back to where they came from”.
A worker who continues to put up daily screensavers containing sexually suggestive images of women
in bikinis on his office computer, even though several of his colleagues have asked him to stop.
A co-worker overhears numerous hostile comments about herself ever since she announced that she
was pregnant again and taking maternity leave for the second time in three years.
An employee who routinely insults his colleague’s ability and withholds information needed to do his
job.
A colleague keeps slapping your behind as they pass by you.
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Did you hear the latest joke … A blonde asked someone what time it was, and they told her it was 4:45.
The blonde, with a puzzled look on her face replied, "You know, it's the weirdest thing, I have been
asking that question all day, and each time I get a different answer."
A co-worker tells you he hopes to see you at the company picnic and he can’t wait to see you in a
bikini.
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Classroom Component Resource Binder
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Co-op Procedures for Dealing with Incidents of Harassment at the Worksite
The purpose of this document is to outline for Co-op students and Co-op teachers what harassment is,
and how to deal with incidents that may arise at the Co-op work placement.
When harassment occurs…immediately…
STEP ONE:
 Acknowledge the problem; ignoring the situation will not make it go away.
 Discuss the situation with your Co-op teacher and/or your parent/guardian.
 The Co-op teacher makes an informal observation ASAP and completes a monitoring visit report.
STEP TWO:
 Document the incidents. Include dates, times, locations, witnesses and details of the harassment.
 Don’t blame yourself – you cannot control the actions of others.
 The Co-op teacher informs the Co-op contact.
STEP THREE:
 If you are comfortable in doing so, speak directly to the harasser. Make it clear that his/her actions
are unwelcome, that the actions must stop and that if the actions don’t stop the supervisor will be
informed. You may want to have someone else present when this occurs. Document the date and
time of this notification.
And/or:
 If the harassing behaviour does not stop, tell your Co-op supervisor and teacher.
STEP FOUR:
 The Co-op teacher arranges an alternate Co-op placement for the student if:
- the student wishes
- the harassment does not stop
- the harassment is not dealt with appropriately by the work supervisor
 If the harassment is not dealt with appropriately by the work supervisor, the Co-op teacher should
terminate the placement for all future assignments. The employer should be notified in writing and
the Co-op Office at the Education Centre is to be notified.
STEP FIVE:
 If direct contact is not an option, or if attempts at stopping the unwelcome behaviour are
unsuccessful, you may wish to discuss options for filing a formal complaint.
 Co-op students may file complaints with:
- a Co-op teacher or a vice-principal or a guidance counsellor with a copy to the Co-op teacher
- the employer/ human resources manager with a copy to the Co-op teacher
 The Co-op teacher notifies, with a copy of the written complaint: the principal, the Co-op contact,
and the Co-op Office at the Education Centre.
 Include in the written complaint:
- date(s,)times including duration, location(s), name of alleged harasser(s), frequency of occurrence,
details of all incidents, any witness and how the specific behaviour affected you
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Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
DISCRIMINATION ON THE JOB
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects job applicants and employees from
discrimination. As well, the Canadian Human Rights Act extends the laws in Canada that forbid
discrimination:
“For all purposes of this Act, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, marital status,
family status, disability and conviction for which a pardon has been granted are prohibited grounds
of discrimination.”
Checklist of things to do in your workplace if you feel that you are being harassed:
1. KNOW
If something that is said or done to you makes you feel uncomfortable, know that
respectful flirtation and compliments don’t make you feel uncomfortable, but sexual
harassment does. Violence and abuse are unlikely to stop. In fact, the violence can get
worse. When harassment or conflict isn’t handled well, the work environment can
become “poisoned”. What can start as a problem between a few co-workers, can
spread, if left unchallenged.
2. SAY
Simply tell the person, “What you are doing makes me uncomfortable.” Perhaps
describe in words what is happening while it is happening — for example, “You have
your hands on my shoulders” or “This is the third time today that you have brushed
against my body when you walked by.” Also, say: “I don’t appreciate that.”
3. FIND
Obtain a definition of sexual harassment, circle the part that describes what the
harasser is doing to you, and leave it in the harasser’s mailbox; or, write a description of
what the harasser is doing and deliver it to the harasser’s office.
4. TELL
Your co-workers should be told what is happening to you, because most harassers have
more than one victim. Tell someone you can trust.
5. REPORT
All workplaces/ institutions/ employee associations have policies and procedures to deal
with harassment. Someone has been appointed to deal with harassment issues, so
report the incident to him/her. Follow up if no action is taken.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.18
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Sexual Harassment Case Studies
How would you handle the following situations?
Thinking/Inquiry
/10
1. Inappropriate jokes.
A person you work with loves to tell jokes. Some of them are very crude and some are racist. You
disagree with the message that they convey and do not appreciate hearing them. What should you say
to the jokester?
2. Unwanted touches.
Your supervisor often touches you inappropriately. He/she also makes comments regarding possible
advancement in the job. How would you handle the situation?
3. E-mail harassment.
Someone has been sending you very rude and sexually suggestive e-mail.
4. Your boss wants a date.
Your boss has asked you to socialize outside of the workplace. You do not care for him/her. What do
you say?
5. A co-worker is being bullied by another co-worker.
A co-worker is repeatedly being put down about the quality of her work by another co-worker. What
do you do?
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.19
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Name: _________________________________
Knowledge/Understanding
/17
SEXUAL HARASSMENT QUIZ
1. What do rude jokes, sexually insulting remarks and embarrassing whistles have in common?
a. They are successful ways of letting someone know you like them
b. They are ways of displaying one’s sense of humour
c. They are all forms of sexual harassment
d. They are all harmless flirtation
2. Sexual harassment happens to both males and females. However, more females experience sexual
harassment than males.
a. True
b) False
3. What are two ways you can help prevent sexual harassment from happening in your school?
a) Make more friends
b) Form a student leadership group
c) Find our code of conduct guidelines and publicize them
d) Fight back physically
4. If you were wearing a provocative (sexy) outfit and you were sexually harassed, you are the one to
blame.
a) True
b) False
5. Choose the 3 correct responses to take if you’ve been sexually harassed.
a) If you aren’t sure, don’t do anything about it
b) Do not ignore it
c) Don’t tell anyone
d) Write down what is happening
e) Tell someone you trust
f) a, b, e
g) b, c, d
h) b, d, e
6. Choose 4 unwanted behaviours that fall under sexual harassment policies.
a) Stalking
b) Mutual flirtation
c) Cat calls, rating, or embarrassing whistles
d) Inappropriate touching
e) Rude jokes of a sexual nature
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.20
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
7. What are severe examples of sexual harassment which are actually sexual assault and are defined
under the criminal code as a criminal offence?
a) Attempted rape and rape
b) Unwanted or forced touching
c) Forced kissing
d) All of the above
8. What can you do if you believe you have been sexually harassed?
a) Call a youth help line
b) Go directly to an adult you can trust
c) Call your local crisis line
d) All of the above
e) None of the above
9. Loss of self-confidence is one of the:
a) Severe examples of sexual harassment
b) Feelings you experience when you hug a friend
c) Effects of sexual harassment
10. If you tell someone that you think you’re being sexually harassed and they don’t believe you, what do you do?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Blame yourself
Find someone else to call
Give up and put it behind you
Don’t be so friendly with people
11. Reports from people who have been previously sexually harassed show that sometimes the event can escalate to:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Assault
Stalking
Threatening
All of the above
None of the above
12. How do you help a friend that’s been sexually harassed?
a) Immediately tell her what you would do if you were her
b) Tell other people what happened
c) Threaten and harass her harasser
d) Listen, give comfort and support
13. Choose which statements are true:
a) The threat of sexual harassment can make you feel powerless
b) Only females get sexually harassed
c) Sexual harassment usually only happens once
d) No one should have to put up with sexual harassment
e) a & d
f) a & b
g) b & d
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.21
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Name: ___________________________________
Knowledge/Understanding
/17
SEXUAL HARASSMENT QUIZ – Answer Key
1. What do rude jokes, sexually insulting remarks and embarrassing whistles have in common?
a) They are successful ways of letting someone know you like them
b) They are ways of displaying one’s sense of humour
c) They are all forms of sexual harassment
d) They are all harmless flirtation
2. Sexual harassment happens to both males and females. However, more females experience sexual
harassment than males.
a) True
b) False
3. What are two ways you can help prevent sexual harassment from happening in your school?
a) Make more friends
b) Form a student leadership group
c) Find our code of conduct guidelines and publicize them
d) Fight back physically
4. If you were wearing a provocative (sexy) outfit and you were sexually harassed, you are the one to
blame.
a) True
b) False
5. Choose the 3 correct responses to take if you’ve been sexually harassed.
a) If you aren’t sure, don’t do anything about it
b) Do not ignore it
c) Don’t tell anyone
d) Write down what is happening
e) Tell someone you trust
f) a, b, e
g) b, c, d
h) b, d, e
6. Choose 4 unwanted behaviours that fall under sexual harassment policies.
a) Stalking
b) Mutual flirtation
c) Cat calls, rating, or embarrassing whistles
d) Inappropriate touching
e) Rude jokes of a sexual nature
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.22
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
7. What are severe examples of sexual harassment which are actually sexual assault and are defined
under the criminal code as a criminal offence?
a) Attempted rape and rape
b) Unwanted or forced touching
c) Forced kissing
d) All of the above
8. What can you do if you believe you have been sexually harassed?
a) Call a youth help line
b) Go directly to an adult you can trust
c) Call your local crisis line
d) All of the above
e) None of the above
9. Loss of self-confidence is one of the:
a) Severe examples of sexual harassment
b) Feelings you experience when you hug a friend
c) Effects of sexual harassment
10. If you tell someone that you think you’re being sexually harassed and they don’t believe you, what do you do?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Blame yourself
Find someone else to call
Give up and put it behind you
Don’t be so friendly with people
11. Reports from people who have been previously sexually harassed show that sometimes the event can escalate to:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Assault
Stalking
Threatening
All of the above
None of the above
12. How do you help a friend that’s been sexually harassed?
a) Immediately tell her what you would do if you were her
b) Tell other people what happened
c) Threaten and harass her harasser
d) Listen, give comfort and support
13. Choose which statements are true:
a) The threat of sexual harassment can make you feel powerless
b) Only females get sexually harassed
c) Sexual harassment usually only happens once
d) No one should have to put up with sexual harassment
e) a & d
f) a & b
g) b & d
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.23
Classroom Component Resource Binder
For Cooperative Education: Pre-placement
Evaluation
 Share Ontario Human Rights Code Case Studies with class or
print and hand in case studies or e-mail to teacher
 Email your teacher or print Assignment: “Your Human Rights
on the Job”
 Email your teacher or print and hand in the Harassment
assignment
 Share with class Harassment Examples, You be the Judge
 Share, Email your teacher or print Sexual Harassment Case
Studies
 Hand in Sexual Harassment quiz
Waterloo Catholic District School Board 2011
RR.4.24