Workplace Harassment Complaint Burlington - Employer Duties

Civil Rights and Equity Ontario 4 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026 Flag of Ontario

In Burlington, Ontario, workers and employers must understand how to raise and respond to workplace harassment. This guide explains where to file a complaint, employer obligations under provincial workplace-safety law, and when to pursue a human-rights or occupational-health-and-safety route. Municipal employees may also use City of Burlington human-resources processes for internal complaints. For provincial enforcement and tribunal options see official guidance from the Ministry of Labour and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Ontario Ministry guidance[1] and Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario[2].

Start by reporting incidents to your employer in writing as soon as possible.

Understanding the legal pathways

There are two commonly used legal pathways for workplace harassment in Burlington: (1) health-and-safety enforcement under Ontario's workplace violence and harassment framework, and (2) human-rights complaints for harassment tied to protected grounds (sex, disability, race, etc.). Employers have duties to investigate and take corrective action under occupational health and safety guidance; separate or overlapping remedies may be available from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for discrimination-based harassment. Municipal internal policies govern complaints by City employees and contractors; check the City of Burlington human-resources pages for internal procedures and contacts.

Penalties & Enforcement

Who enforces and what sanctions may apply:

  • Enforcers: Occupational health and safety inspectors (Ministry of Labour) and tribunal adjudicators for human-rights claims; City of Burlington HR or labour relations for internal matters.
  • Fines and monetary penalties: specific fine amounts for workplace harassment enforcement are not specified on the cited pages; refer to provincial enforcement guidance for offence categories and penalties Ontario Ministry guidance[1].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to comply, directives to investigate, corrective-action orders, administrative penalties by inspectors, and tribunal remedies such as damages, orders to cease discriminatory conduct, and reinstatement where applicable.
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: complaints to the Ministry of Labour for workplace-safety concerns; applications to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for discrimination-based harassment; internal reports to the City of Burlington HR for municipal employees.
  • Appeals and review: OHSA inspector orders and administrative decisions follow provincial review or prosecution routes; Human Rights Tribunal decisions have appeal or judicial-review pathways subject to statutory time limits (see tribunal guidance for deadlines).
If a precise penalty figure is needed for a specific offence, check the cited enforcement page or contact the enforcing office.

Escalation and repeat offences

The cited provincial guidance describes mechanisms for orders and inspections but does not list escalation fines by first/repeat offence on the linked pages; details on repeat or continuing violations are handled through inspector orders, charges, or tribunal remedies depending on the forum Ontario Ministry guidance[1].

Common violations

  • Failure to investigate reported harassment incidents.
  • Failure to implement or follow a workplace harassment policy.
  • Retaliation against a person who made a complaint.
Retaliation itself can give rise to a separate complaint or charge.

Applications & Forms

How to submit complaints and what forms are used:

  • Ministry of Labour complaints: follow the Ministry's online guidance to report workplace-violence or harassment issues; see the Ministry page for methods and any online forms Ontario Ministry guidance[1].
  • Human Rights Tribunal applications: use the HRTO application process to seek remedies for harassment tied to protected grounds; application details are on the HRTO site Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario[2].
  • City of Burlington internal forms: municipal HR processes apply for City staff; specific internal forms or instructions are published by the City of Burlington human-resources office (check the City site for the current internal complaint form).

Action steps - what individuals and employers should do

  • Document: keep dated records, witness names, and any communications related to incidents.
  • Report internally: notify your supervisor or HR in writing following employer procedures.
  • File with the Ministry: for workplace-safety enforcement, file a complaint or request an inspection via Ministry channels Ontario Ministry guidance[1].
  • File with HRTO: for harassment tied to human-rights grounds, apply to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario[2].
  • Preserve evidence: save emails, messages, and any records of the employer's response.

FAQ

How do I report workplace harassment in Burlington?
You can report internally to your employer or HR, file a Ministry of Labour complaint for workplace-safety concerns, or apply to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for discrimination-based harassment; follow the official guidance pages for each route.
What must my employer do after a complaint?
Employers must investigate complaints, take reasonable corrective action to protect workers, and follow workplace-harassment policies and provincial guidance; specific steps depend on the forum and policy.
Will filing a complaint stop retaliation?
Retaliation is prohibited; report retaliation immediately and include it in any complaint to the employer, the Ministry, or the tribunal.

How-To

  1. Report the incident in writing to your supervisor or HR and request a written record of receipt.
  2. Collect and preserve evidence: dates, messages, witness names, and any related documents.
  3. If employer response is inadequate, submit a Ministry of Labour complaint following the Ministry's online guidance Ministry guidance[1].
  4. For harassment tied to protected human-rights grounds, prepare and file an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario HRTO[2].
  5. Seek legal advice or representation if you expect contested hearings, disciplinary proceedings, or criminal conduct.

Key Takeaways

  • File internally first and document everything.
  • Use Ministry enforcement for safety issues and HRTO for discrimination-based harassment.
  • Contact City of Burlington HR for internal municipal staff procedures.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Ontario Ministry of Labour: Violence and harassment in the workplace
  2. [2] Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario: HRTO official site and application information

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