Diversity, equity & inclusion

Learn more about DEI at MLT Aikins.

Learn more

Pink Shirt Day 2025

On Wednesday, February 26, individuals from MLT Aikins are encouraged to wear pink to bring awareness to bullying and advocate for a kinder, more inclusive world.

Since its origins as a student-led initiative in Nova Scotia to support a bullied classmate, Pink Shirt Day has grown into a global movement celebrated in schools, workplaces and communities.

David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school… They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.

– From “Our Story,” pinkshirtday.ca

This year’s theme, Let Kindness Grow, is about cultivating kindness in our workplace and other spheres of influence, beginning with small gestures – a kind word, and offer of support or understanding.  Out of these “seeds” of empathy and compassion can grow meaningful change.

Three laughing co-workers

Diversity, equity & inclusion

Learn more about DEI at MLT Aikins.

Learn more

What is bullying?

While bullying is a form of aggression, actions can be both obvious and subtle. It is also difficult to predict who may be the aggressor or the target of bullying. Examples include:

  • spreading malicious rumours, gossip or innuendo
  • excluding or isolating someone socially
  • intimidating a person
  • undermining or deliberately impeding a person’s work
  • removing areas of responsibilities without cause
  • constantly changing work guidelines
  • establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail
  • withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information
  • making offensive jokes verbally or email
  • intruding on a person’s privacy by pestering, spying or stalking
  • assigning unreasonable duties or workload which are unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates unnecessary pressure)
  • underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness
  • yelling or using profanity
  • criticizing a person persistently or constantly
  • belittling a person’s opinions
  • unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment
  • blocking applications for training, leave or promotion
  • tampering with a person’s personal belongings or work equipment
  • physically abusing or threatening abuse

How does bullying affect the workplace?

Bullying impacts the overall “health” of an organization and its effects can include:

  • Increased absenteeism and turnover
  • Increased employee stress
  • Increased costs for employee assistance programs and recruitment
  • Increased risk for incidents
  • Decreased productivity, motivation and morale
  • Reduced corporate image and customer confidence
  • Poor customer service

How can I promote a respectful and inclusive workplace?

  • Become an ally to those who are subject to discrimination, oppression and/or bullying and harassment in the workplace
  • Learn about the histories and experiences of people who have faced oppression because of their identity
  • Reflect on how your own actions (or non-actions) may contribute to the oppression of others
  • Practise becoming more aware of your biases and how these might be shaping your words and actions
  • Become more aware of how you listen and what you listen for when you hear about an experience of oppression or discrimination
  • Amplify the voices of those who are disempowered
  • Act with openheartedness and compassion

Additional resources