‘Breadth of sexual harassment activity’ needs urgent attention, BCEHS culture review finds

An external, independent review of the culture at the BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has found that “urgent attention” needs to be given to the “breadth of sexual harassment activity” within the organization.

The redacted report by Cathe Gaskell from The Results Company was initially provided to the BCEHS in July 2022, however, it was released Friday after a Freedom of Information request was lodged by CTV Vancouver.

The review was requested by the organization after “enormous societal changes,” including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, the report says.

“The breadth of sexual harassment activity reported, and the sense of frustration expressed by a number of female paramedics, as well as acknowledgment by male colleagues of its existence, requires urgent attention and a sustained focus on to reduce, by the organization,” the report stated.

The report notes that it is a “reasonable conclusion” that instances of sexual assault within the BCEHS are underreported.

“A number of staff expressed that in raising a complaint, it will not be acted upon or taken seriously. Anecdotally it was reported that females had been treated poorly when raising complaints as this had resulted in both direct and indirect reprisals. For some, it remained a terrifying prospect to consider raising a complaint about sexual harassment.

“Some staff reported the union’s advice historically had been to drop it as it was described as a ‘he said, she said, issue,'” the report said.

Some BCEHS workers believe managers are “complicit” in protecting friends and other workers, saying a “‘boys club’ was still in existence that protected predators.”

Gender-based derogatory “banter” was tolerated within certain teams, every-day sexism became normalized, inappropriate touching, and gender bias were just some of the other examples provided to the external reviewers.

“Some staff believed that female paramedics needed to stand up to perpetrators and it was part of the job to have a gutsy, tough demeanour, and not to take comments too seriously,” the report found.

Some staff also told the reviewers that the union had engaged in “supporting” alleged sexual assault perpetrators, which created conflict within the workplace.

BCEHS staff morale ‘extremely low’

The review finds that the organization has “low levels” of diversity, equity, and inclusion awareness, and a “lack of sensitivity expressed by some colleagues around diversity.”

A total of 1,862 staff members responded to the external survey, amounting to 43 per cent of the workforce.

The survey found that employee morale is “extremely low,” the report says, noting that there is a “lack of acknowledgment from leadership and burnout.”

“Employees are burnt out with mental health stressors, being overworked due to understaffing, scheduling, and payroll errors that have affected their belief and passion for their roles,” the report stated.

“Employees have expressed extreme frustration with the lack of acknowledgment and being listened to by leadership; employees believe solutions and processes that leaders are putting in place do not address employee needs and do not take employee/manager feedback into account.”

The survey found less than half (39 per cent) of responding workers believe the BCEHS takes “effective action to prevent disrespectful behaviour,” and only half (50 per cent) believe the workforce to be “psychologically safe.”

Almost one-in-10 responding workers say they have experienced “unfair treatment” due to race or cultural background, with 11 per cent of those respondents claiming it happens “daily.”

The report found that the 2021 heat dome has majorly impacted staff morale, “leaving some staff experiencing shame and anger about how the situation unfolded and a sense of moral injury in terms of the number of deaths in the community.”

It also notes that the ongoing toxic drug death crisis and the “lack of an organizational response to the crisis” has also impacted burnout in some colleagues.

“Staff reported having to attend patients who had overdosed, on occasions multiple times a day and this led to a sense of helplessness and frustration in attending teams.”

Health Service ‘taking action’ to create safe workplace

In a statement Friday, the BCEHS says it is continuing to “take action to ensure its workplaces are respectful, inclusive, and foster the mental [health] and well-being of employees.”

The BCEHS says the review, while redacted publicly, strengthens the organization to better support employees and the culture of the organization.

The health service says it is addressing the concerns raised by the external review to create an ” inclusive and respectful environment, free from harassment and discrimination.”

The BCEHS says this includes improving its hiring practices; training HR teams with best practices in handling sensitive workplaces investigations; providing managers and supervisors extra training to “confront inappropriate behaviours”; establishing a confidential phone line for employees to report incidents of harassment, bullying, and discrimination; hiring a leader of people, equity and diversity; and “strengthening employee recognition and appreciation efforts.”

–With files from Cole Schisler