Policy
Souzza is committed to providing a safe environment for all its employees free from discrimination on any ground and from harassment at work including sexual harassment.
Souzza will operate a zero tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment in the workplace, treat all incidents seriously and promptly investigate all allegations of sexual harassment.
Any person found to have sexual harassed another will face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment.
All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and treated with respect and in confidence. No one will be victimized for making such a complaint.
Definition of sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated. It includes situations where a person is asked to engage in sexual activity as a condition of that person’s employment, as well as situations which create an environment which is hostile, intimidating or humiliating for the recipient.
Sexual harassment can involve one or more incidents and actions constituting harassment may be physical, verbal and non-verbal. Examples of conduct or behavior which constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
Physical conduct
Unwelcome physical contact including patting, pinching, stroking, kissing, hugging, fondling or inappropriate touching
Physical violence, including sexual assault
Physical contact, i.e. touching, pinching
The use of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favors
Verbal conduct
Comments on a worker’s appearance, age, private life, etc.
Sexual comments, stories and jokes
Sexual advances
Repeated and unwanted social invitations for dates or physical intimacy
Insults based on the sex of the worker
Condescending or paternalistic remarks
Sending sexually explicit messages (by phone or email)
Non-verbal conduct
Display of sexually explicit or suggestive material
Sexually-suggestive gestures
Whistling
Leering
Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, regardless of their sex and of the sex of the harasser. Souzza recognizes that sexual harassment may also occur between people of the same sex. What matters is that the sexual conduct is unwanted and unwelcome by the person against whom the conduct is directed.
Souzza recognizes that sexual harassment is a manifestation of power relationships and often occurs within unequal relationships in the workplace, for example between manager or supervisor and employee.
Anyone, including employees of Souzza, customers, contractors or visitors who sexually harasses another will be reprimanded in accordance with this internal policy.
All sexual harassment is prohibited whether it takes place within Souzza premises or outside, including at social events, business trips, training sessions or conferences sponsored by Souzza.