Workplace Harassment Essay: Zero Tolerance in Unionized Settings

This essay examines workplace harassment, particularly focusing on the application of zero-tolerance policies within unionized environments. It analyzes a case study involving a female potash mine worker who experienced sexual harassment, leading to the perpetrator's dismissal and subsequent union grievance. The paper delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by employers and the legal complexities of balancing zero-tolerance policies with principles of progressive discipline and labor law. It highlights the importance of protecting women in the workplace and discusses the impact of sexual harassment on victims. The essay further explores the role of unions in defending their members while also acknowledging the need for strict rules against harassment. It also discusses the zero tolerance policy that has been taken by various American organizations in order to keep them safe and secured from the unwanted harassment of the company in terms of sexual harassment which might harm the reputation and goodwill of the company to a greater extent.

Running head: WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
Name of the student
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Author Note

1WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
The respective essay is about an article on sexual harassment in the workplace named
“Zero Tolerance- can it work in a unionized environment?” and actions that are deemed to be
taken in favor of the victim. The paper focuses on the perils of the women workers and laborers
in the arena of a male dominated work environment where they get continuously harassed,
physically, psychologically and sexually, especially in the workplaces which requires physical
labor, such as in construction sites and mines. However, the paper also focuses on the ethical
dilemmas the company managers and board of directors face when they are to confront with
conflicting laws.
The case which triggered the ethics and the policies of the respective Canadian
organization was the sexual harassment (groping) of a female potash mine worker by a male
worker who, when interrogated, gave a statement that it was a “casual gesture” and nothing
personal was associated with it. However, the very statement of such gruesome act being
“casual” undermines the reputation of the woman and portrays her as an object of pleasure and a
sexual toy which can be played and touched whenever the perpetrator feels to do so. Such act is
strongly condemned throughout the world and is unethical and completely immoral as it severely
hurts the respect, dignity and integrity of the women folk.
The incidents of sexual harassment came into being after the women folk were slowly
and gradually given the place in the outer professional world, in industries, educational
institutions, factories, banks and offices. However, as more women were encouraged to join the
workforce with men and stay there, more cases of sexual harassment along with more intolerance
of sexual harassment was being observed throughout the world, though in certain third world
countries, the condition of working women are obnoxious. Zero tolerance is a new word
introduced by the corporate law that calls for an immediate action for any kind of misconduct

2WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
done by the employee or any professional working in the organization. This paper has examined
how zero tolerance policies work in practice in the unionized environment. In the selected
arbitration cases studied, unions do battle with employers when union members are disciplined
for sexually harassing co-workers, who are often also union members.
Through the paper, it has been come to be known that the associations such as Canadian
Autoworkers, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canadian Union of Postal Workers and
United Steelworkers of America have strict rules against sexual violence or harassment.
The second case that was highlighted in the respective article was that the case of Bonnie
Robichaud, who was a cleaner who reported of sexual harassment by her supervisor. Such sexual
harassment cases created a mass agitation throughout the American society which led to different
feminist movements as well as human rights movements and pressure groups. However, in order
to be completely shielded from such obnoxious and unwanted allegations, the employers
employed the Zero tolerance policy in the workplace in order to filter out the nuisances who can
be a threat to the organization in terms of sexual harassment and personal harassment, therefore,
keeping themselves away from any kind of unwanted harassment and problems that might
escalate to legal and ethical issues as well.
In the year 1999, there had been a report of another sexual violence that happened with a
cabin cleaner who alleged that the supervisor had touched her inappropriately and tried to
sexually exploit her inside the cabin. The woman also alleged that the supervisor sexually
exploited the other cleaner women as well and whoever did not proceed with the sexual
advances, those women were unfortunately fired by the supervisors. Such sexual exploitation had
been unpardonable and the American human rights department had deemed it to be highly
condemnable which had also been one of the reasons why the organizations opt for zero

3WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
tolerance policy, especially in sexual violence. Therefore, it has to be understood that zero
tolerance policy, no matter how harsh it may sound, need to be implemented because the respect
and dignity of women should be given the highest priority and any act which outrages her
modesty must be highly condemned because women are the half of the population of the society
and has the right to provide their labor in the market as well.
Often, in the cases of sexual harassment, the past history of the perpetrator is viewed. The
Canadian labor law that states that no employee can be terminated or thrown out of the
organization if the employee does not have the history of repetitive breach of law, or a repetition
of the same mistakes again and again. In the mentioned case of the sexual harassment of the
woman potash miner mentioned in the essay, the argument which the respective essay has shown
is the ethical dilemma often the authority has to face when it plans to terminate an employee on
the ground of sexual harassment. The employee, who was an old employee with no such sexual
harassment records before but with records of misconduct and punctuality issues, were
suspended under the policy of ZTP (Zero Tolerance Policy). The main argument which the essay
makes is that Zero Tolerance Policy in an organization regarding sexual harassment is quick and
effective way of dealing such offenses rather than depending on the cumbersome process of
justice which is equally harmful for the organization and the victim.
The respective essay concludes by discussing about sexual harassment in the workplace
and actions that are deemed to be taken in favor of the victim. The paper focuses on the problems
the women workers and laborers in male dominated work ambience face where they get
continuously harassed, physically, psychologically and sexually, especially in the workplaces
which requires physical labor, such as in construction sites, cleaning areas, housekeeping and

4WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
mines. The paper also provides a clear picture of the ethical dilemmas the company managers
and board of directors face when they are to confront with conflicting laws. The paper has also
highlighted the zero tolerance policy that has been taken by various American organizations in
order to keep them safe and secured from the unwanted harassment of the company in terms of
sexual harassment which might harm the reputation and goodwill of the company to a greater
extent.