“Every Nova Scotian deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at work.” – The Honourable Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration
Ann Divine, CEO of Ashanti Leadership & PDS Inc., led the education department at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for seven years. During that time, one of her areas of expertise was teaching organizations about Harassment in the Workplace. Over time, this work evolved into Respectful Workplace training.
On September 1, 2025, the Nova Scotia Government will introduce a province-wide regulation to build safer and more respectful workplaces by naming and setting standards for all employers.
Employers must:
- Have a written harassment prevention policy
- Provide training on the policy to employees
- Establish clear procedures for reporting and investigating harassment
- Take steps to prevent harassment from occurring
- Respond promptly and appropriately when incidents are reported
Harassment includes bullying, intimidation, threats, and other harmful and unwanted behaviours.
This legislation is intended to be actionable and responsive to the needs of employees. It is a direct response to findings from a major study of more than 600 participants, many of whom shared their lived experiences and called for stronger workplace protections.
There is an urgent need for a cultural shift in our workplaces. The government expects organizations to take responsibility for addressing systemic racism, inequality, and the lack of psychological safety. The goal is to see improvements in organizational culture and efficiency while fostering a best-in-class environment that respects and empowers people.
During my time at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, my colleague Linda Nichol, Education Officer, and I often felt like lone voices in the wilderness when speaking about workplace harassment. We were not always popular when entering organizations to deliver human rights education.
Today, I am encouraged to see this new approach, one that recognizes shared responsibility between government and industry. It is also promising that the government not only requires employers to be proactive but also provides tools and learning resources to support them.
Workplace harassment costs Canadian businesses billions of dollars each year through absenteeism, mental health challenges, high employee turnover, legal expenses, reputational harm, and reduced productivity.
At Ashanti Leadership, we continue to offer education and training in this area, and we are ready to support organizations in developing policies, practices, and training programs that create safer workplaces.
When governments take the lead on initiatives like this, we build trust, strengthen confidence, remove barriers, and create inclusive workplaces where people feel safe and valued.
Let’s explore how we can support your organization.
