Committed To Fostering A Respectful Work Environment

How Councils Can Help Reduce Bullying & Harassments of Strata Agents

As many of you can appreciate, COVID-19 has been a challenging time for everyone and unfortunately has led to an increase in the negative interactions our staff, specifically strata agents, are experiencing with Residents and Owners.  We recognize the strain this pandemic has placed on all of us, but there is no excuse for some of the exchanges being reported by our Employees.

In this industry, we have become accustomed to hostile or rude customers from time to time… that is part of being in the customer service business, but in recent months we have become aware of numerous instances where the disrespectful, threatening, and abusive language imparted on our Employees is no longer an occupational hazard, but a WorkSafeBC concern.  We note that this is not a problem unique to The Wynford Group, but a reality faced by many Strata Management Companies in the lower mainland.

The wellbeing of our Employees is our highest priority and everyone has the right to feel safe and respected in a work environment free from intimidation, bullying, and harassment.  Examples of bullying and harassment according to WorkSafeBC, include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal aggression or insults.
• Calling someone derogatory names.
• Abusive, belittling or intimidating phone calls, emails, notes, and so on.
• Rude, belittling, or sarcastic comments.
• Spreading false accusations about a person.
• Criticism, humiliation, invasion of privacy, slanderous comments.

From the list above, examples of each can be drawn from the interactions had by our staff when dealing with some Owners and Residents.

Section 21(1)(a) of the Act (“Act“) requires an Employer to take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of its workers. This includes preventing where possible, or otherwise minimizing, workplace bullying and harassment.

OUR ASK OF COUNCILS

The reason for this communication is to call for Council support as one of the ways we can prevent and minimize bullying and harassment moving forward.  Below are three ways Councils can help:

• By not engaging in the bullying and harassment of Wynford Employees.
• By presenting an anti-bullying / harassment Bylaw for Ownership approval.
• By taking appropriate action such as legal letters or cease and desists, when reports of bullying and harassment from an Owner or Resident are brought to your attention.

We recognize that in your role on Council you too are subject to bullying and harassment from time to time, which is simply unacceptable. At Wynford, our commitment as your Agents is to prevent and minimize these interactions as much as possible by acting as your intermediary. We want you to enjoy the home you live in and volunteer to maintain.

It is no secret that there is a shortage of qualified strata agents in this industry as noted in this 2018 CBC article.  We do not want intimidation, bullying, and harassment to be another deterrent for people joining this vibrant and rewarding industry. Wynford has a mandate to continue recruiting, training, and developing future agents, to support and service the communities we manage.

Thank you for taking the time to read this important message and we hope that as a Council you will participate to ensure we can stay committed to fostering a respectful work environment for our valued Employees.