Rights, Responsibilities & Supports During the SVP Complaint Resolution Process
For faculty and staff (including student staff)
If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, there is support for you at Toronto Metropolitan University. You have the right to report an incident and access appropriate supports and resources.
You can reach out to Workplace Wellbeing Services for trauma informed support for TMU faculty and staff affected by sexual violence and other forms of gender based violence.
Contact Human Rights Services for information about the complaint resolution process under the Sexual Violence Policy. Once a report is submitted to Human Rights Services, the team will determine the appropriate next steps.
- Faculty and staff have access to support through Workplace Wellbeing Services.
Unionized staff have a right to union representation.
- Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to ensuring an environment and culture of confidentiality where people feel safe to report and seek support for their concerns.
- Complainants, respondents and witnesses are expected to keep the details of any case confidential, outside of their circle of support, in order to ensure the integrity of the investigation and decision-making process.
Limits of confidentiality
However, there are limits or exceptions to confidentiality. Confidentiality cannot be maintained when:
- An individual is at risk of life-threatening self-harm.
- An individual is at risk of harming others.
- There is risk to the safety of the university and/or broader community.
- Disclosure is required by law:
- for instance, under the Child and Family Services Act, reporting is legally required if an incident involves a child 16 or under;
- to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act or the Ontario Human Rights Code; and/or
- evidence of the disclosed incident of sexual violence is available in the public realm (e.g. video shared publicly on social media, etc.). In these instances, the university may investigate an incident even though the survivor has chosen not to file a report or complaint, and/or
- Where it is necessary to implement the complaint resolution process or interim measures during the investigation and decision-making process.
These above circumstances represent exceptions, not the rule, and are necessary to ensure the university is meeting its legal obligations under Bill 132.
- Every member of the TMU community has a right to claim and enforce their rights under Sexual Violence Policy, to provide evidence, and to participate in a complaint resolution process under the Sexual Violence Policy without reprisal or threat of reprisal.
- All Complainants and Respondents will be informed of the university’s position regarding the seriousness of any allegations of reprisal against complainants, witnesses or others involved and what constitutes reprisal. Any claims of reprisal will also be investigated and responded to.
If someone discloses sexual violence to you, it’s okay not to have all of the answers. You don’t need to be an expert to support them.
Rather, try to remember to use the BRAVE model that was established by Consent Comes First/Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education:
- Begin by listening.
- Respect privacy.
- Ask what support looks like to them.
- Validate.
- Empathize.
Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to combating sexual violence. Individuals are strongly encouraged, and in certain cases mandated (where there is a reporting relationship), to report incidents of sexual harassment or sexual violence they have become aware of so the university can take the appropriate steps to address the issue. You have two options for disclosing or reporting sexual violence:
- For disclosing: Workplace Wellbeing Services provides support. Contact Workplace Wellbeing Services to inform them of what you have learned. Workplace Wellbeing Services will always refer staff to Human Rights Services if they would like to make a complaint or better understand their options around investigations and alternative dispute resolution.
- For reporting: Human Rights Services is available to meet with you to discuss a report under the Sexual Violence Policy.