The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and its members have thrown their support behind a new project that aims to enhance prevention and response measures for gender-based and sexual harassment.

The Safe STEM Workplaces project, which is funded in part by the federal Department of Justice, is a collaborative effort between WomanACT, and the Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST). It aims to foster safe and harassment-free workplaces, particularly within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and trade sectors with the goal of reducing stress, enhancing productivity, and retaining women in these industries.

Although the issue of workplace harassment has garnered global attention, alarming statistics persist, says a release from WomanACT and SCWIST. Approximately 40% of women worldwide experience workplace sexual harassment. In Canada, reports of sexual harassment from women consistently outnumber those from men by ratios ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 times.

WomanACT and SCWIST have partnered with the CCA to launch a micro-lesson training series. The series, which is available through CCA partner associations to CCA integrated members at no cost, aims to reshape workplace cultures and eliminate gender-based and sexual harassment within workplaces.

It offers an interactive training program encompassing essential concepts, practical strategies, and actionable steps. Participants will delve into trauma-informed practices, procedural fairness, equity, as well as the nuances of gender, sexual orientation, and harassment, and will receive a certificate upon completion. The series empowers participants to foster accountable workplace cultures, implement preventative measures, and respond effectively to incidents.

"Our partnership for the micro-lesson training series with CCA signifies more than collaboration; it signifies our shared commitment to reshape workplaces,” said Harmy Mendoza, Executive Director of WomanACT. “We're writing a story where harassment has no place, and equality and respect thrive."

The Canadian Construction Association's commitment to cultivating a culture of respect and safety aligns seamlessly with the shared objectives of WomanACT and SCWIST, the association said in a release, and cited the work of such employers as Chandos Construction, Tandem Launch, and EllisDon, who are among many dedicated to nurturing respectful and secure work environments.

"The construction sector continues to invest in an inclusive and respectful workplace. We are delighted to offer this training to our member firms through our integrated partner associations across Canada," said CCA president Mary Van Buren.