Anti-bullying, anti-harassment training headed to Kelowna and other B.C. cities

KELOWNA -The first of a dozen anti-bullying, anti-harassment training sessions for B.C.'s on-site construction leaders is headed to Kelowna in September.

Training sessions have been held for business owners, executives and human resources managers but the new courses are designed for those who work directly with tradespeople, including site supervisors, forepersons and union reps.

“The training will be invaluable for construction employers across B.C., where the competition for skilled workers is fierce, the retention of first-year apprentices is challenging, and most employers are small companies that do not have the extra time and resources they need to develop HR (human resources) initiatives that promote an acceptable workplace culture,” states a news release from the B.C. Construction Association.

Called the Builders Code, the training focuses on unacceptable worksite conduct, how to build and maintain acceptable worksite culture,s making workplaces inclusive and dealing with complainants.

It’s expected that the free sessions will make it easier to recruit and keep workers, improve safety and lower health care costs.

While the first session is in Kelowna, there are a dozen more scheduled throughout the province by the end of October, including two in Williams Lake Oct. 22 and 23 and two in Castlegar, Sept. 19 and Oct. 10.

Registration can be done online on the Southern Interior Construction Association web site for Kelowna and Castlegar or the Northern Regional Construction Association site for Williams Lake.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.