Red River College

Background

Red River College aimed to enhance its Respectful Workplace program to address issues of harassment and bullying, and to foster a culture of respect among leadership teams, students, staff, and contractors. To achieve this goal, they partnered with Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc. (IWS) to transform their existing anti-harassment program into a comprehensive and robust Respectful Workplace program.

Method

  1. Program Revamp: IWS revamped the college’s anti-harassment program into a Respectful Workplace program, ensuring it was comprehensive and addressed all stakeholders, including leadership teams, students, staff, and contractors.
  2. Policy Development: Collaborated with the college’s human resources department to develop and update policies that support a respectful workplace.
  3. Staff Onboarding: Assisted with staff onboarding processes to integrate the principles of a respectful workplace from the outset.
  4. Training and Coaching: Designed and delivered a comprehensive respectful workplace training and coaching program. This program aimed to promote psychological safety on campus, ensuring all participants understood respectful workplace practices and the importance of psychological safety.

Impact

  • Robust Program Implementation: The revamped Respectful Workplace program was well communicated and effectively implemented across the college, setting a clear standard for behavior and interactions.
  • Increased Awareness: Comprehensive training improved the awareness and understanding of respectful workplace practices among staff and students, fostering a more respectful and inclusive campus environment.

Results

  • Structured Process: The new program provided a well developed structure and clear processes for addressing and resolving complaints of harassment and bullying.
  • Enhanced Understanding: Staff, students, and contractors gained a better understanding of respectful workplace practices, the complaints process, and resolution strategies.
  • Improved Campus Environment: The program’s implementation led to a more respectful and psychologically safe campus environment, positively impacting the college community.

This case study demonstrates the successful collaboration between Red River College and Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc. in creating a Respectful Workplace program that effectively addresses issues of harassment and bullying, while promoting a culture of respect and psychological safety.