The City of Abbotsford recognizes the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce in attracting and retaining top talent at the City and in best serving and anticipating the needs of our diverse and growing community.
As an employer, our organization remains committed to maintaining a positive, open and respectful working environment where everyone matters and differences are viewed as strengths. By fostering an environment of dignity and respect for all of our employees we will continue to build a workforce that reflects the diversity and strength of our community.
The City of Abbotsford commits to respecting the fundamental rights, personal worth and human dignity of all members of our community and commits to acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing and celebrating differences among people with respect to race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or because that person has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or to the intended employment of that person. This commitment helps everyone at the City of Abbotsford to celebrate differences as strengths and embrace the way in which we are interdependent.
The City’s 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy will ensure the City of Abbotsford as a workplace remains in a leadership role in demonstrating the values of diversity and inclusion, and continues to support an involved, safe and engaged workforce committed to customer service excellence. The updated Strategy will serve as a platform for the City in planning proactively for the ongoing changes in the economic and talent market and assist in positioning the City as an employer of choice.
Guiding Legislation – Canada and British Columbia
Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”
Under the BC Human Rights Code, every person has the right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods, facilities, occupancy and accommodation without discrimination due to race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or because that person has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or to the intended employment of that person.
Under the Worker’s Compensation Act, all employees are entitled to a workplace free from bullying and harassment. In addition to its legislation (the Workers Compensation Act), the Province through WorkSafe BC has developed policies that mandate the creation and maintenance of a respectful, harassment-free workplace.
Significantly, this is not an “Employer-Only” issue: WorkSafe BC has created three different sets of policies: one for employers, one for supervisors and one for employees, including “reporting obligations” on bystanders who are aware of potential bullying/harassment of others. Together, the legislation and policies raise the bar on respect for everyone in the workplace. That is, WorkSafe BC expects all individuals, regardless of their position, to take responsibility for maintaining a respectful workplace.
No one individual or group can expect another to “fix” workplace negativity or toxicity. Instead, everyone is expected to work together, in a constructive and positive manner, to resolve workplace conflict early and do whatever is necessary to prevent workplace harassment and bullying.
Guiding Policies and Practices - City of Abbotsford
The Council Diversity Policy provides a framework for how the City supports and promotes a society where residents have equal opportunity to participate and where diversity is accepted and valued.
By living its values the City of Abbotsford strives to be an organization recognized for its excellence in city governance and employee, citizen and customer relations. To provide excellence in service delivery, we have a role in understanding our business and fostering a corporate culture that sets the highest standard of integrity, professionalism and ethical behavior. We act with character and integrity and do our best to understand the perspectives of Abbotsford residents while delivering services.
Respect: We respect others.
Integrity: We act with character. We are fair, ethical and honest.
Openness: We are accessible, accountable and transparent.
Collaboration/Teamwork: We welcome and encourage the opinions and expertise of our residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
Inclusivity: We honour and celebrate our diversity and seek to engage citizens in our decisions.
Trust: We continuously build trust with our staff, the community and our stakeholders. We are proactive in practicing our values.
This policy sets out procedures for responding to reports or incidents of bullying and harassment in the workplace, and ensures a reasonable response to the report or incident that aims to fully address the incident and ensure that bullying and harassment is prevented or minimized in the future.
The City’s Code of Ethics is an expression of the values held by the City of Abbotsford. The Code states overarching principles to assist all employees in determining what is right or appropriate in the decisions they make and the situations they face at work each day.
