SUMA and SARM Launch Harassment Prevention Policy Template for Municipalities

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) have developed a tool for municipalities to guide best practices to help facilitate responding to harassment in the workplace.

Municipalities, like all employers, must have effective respectful workplace policies and investigation processes to assist in fostering a harassment free workplace and to appropriately address allegations of workplace harassment allegations as they arise.

The harassment prevention policy template helps municipalities ensure workplace harassment is dealt with in the most effective manner to help promote safe and harassment-free workplaces in the rural and urban communities.

As there is no one size fits all approach for dealing with harassment in the workplace, municipalities are encouraged to revise the policy to fit their specific needs. If necessary, consult a legal professional for specific advice. The template is available to municipalities at www.suma.org and www.sarm.ca.

Regina lawyer Jana Linner of MLT Aikins advised on the development of the harassment prevention policy template for municipalities on behalf of SARM and SUMA.

About SUMA

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is the voice of Saskatchewan’s hometowns. SUMA is the collective voice for all Saskatchewan hometown communities and represents the interests of the members to other orders of government leading to improved local government and thriving, sustainable communities.

About SARM

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is the independent association that represents the interests of rural municipal government in Saskatchewan and is the principal advocate in representing them before senior governments. The Association takes direction from its members and forms its policy accordingly. SARM proudly takes on its role as the voice of rural Saskatchewan. Incorporated in 1905, SARM celebrated its Centennial in 2005.