Frequently Asked Questions 

There are no bullying and harassment protections in Nova Scotia unless the bullying relates to one of the prohibited grounds set out in the Human Rights Act.

This means that your employer is, for the most part, allowed to treat you in a way that is rude and unkind, so long as this treatment does not amount to discrimination.

However, if you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition as a result of this harassment, you may be entitled to compensation for gradual onset psychological stress with Occupational Health & Safety.

The best way to fight back against a bad boss is to organize! Even when the law falls short of real justice, we can win when we join together to assert our rights. To get organized, reach out to the WAC or join as a member.

Making inappropriate and sexually explicit jokes in the workplace are considered part of sexual harassment, which is a form of workplace gender discrimination prohibited by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. You may have a claim at the Human Rights Commission against your employer for engaging in workplace sexual harassment. 

If you believe that your workplace is not safe, the first thing you should do is report these concerns to your employer. If your employer fails to remedy these concerns you may refuse to complete the unsafe work and report the unsafe conditions to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee at your workplace OR if these avenues fail, the Labour and Advanced Education Division. 

Please note that you are entitled to continue to refuse the unsafe work until the issue is remedied or until an investigation is conducted by the OHSC committee or the Labour and Advanced Education board which results in an order for you to return to work. 

Yes, if your employer fires you for any reason, even if justified, you are entitled to be paid all of the vacation pay that you accumulated during your employment within 10 days of your last day of work. 

If your employer refuses to pay you this, or any other amount you believe that you are owed, you can file a claim with the Labour Standards Division.

Under the Human Rights Act, your employer has a duty to accommodate your workplace needs which are related to one of the protected grounds. Family status is the ground that requires employers to accommodate your needs relating to childcare within reason. If your employer is unreasonably refusing to accommodate your childcare needs, you may have a human rights claim. 

If it has been more than a year since the most recent incident of discrimination from your employer and you would like to make a human rights claim, you may be able to file your claim anyways and appeal any dismissal. Please note that in order to be successful a good reason for the delay in filing will be necessary. 

If you have questions about filing a human rights claim, or appealing a decision of the human rights commission, please reach out to the WAC. 

The WAC is unable to provide assistance to unionized employees. The Canada Labour Congress ensures that unions appropriately represent their members. If you are experiencing an issue with your union, reach out to the Atlantic Regional Representative of the Canada Labour Congress.

If you cannot find information about the workplace issue you are experiencing, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Halifax Workers’ Action Centre.

Submit an intake form here.