What is abuse?
Abuse can take many forms. It can include criminal acts such as assault, sexual assault, or negligence; it can be human rights violations such as harassment, verbal taunting or degrading and humiliating behaviour. It could be a threat or a false accusation by your employer meant to frighten you against complaining.
The best protection against abuse is information. Be sure that you know your rights and what steps to follow if something goes wrong. If you feel uncomfortable, call us!
Depending on the nature of the incident, abuse may be an offence under the criminal code or a violation under provincial or federal human rights legislation.
Don't confront the abuser. Inform the police or let the responsible provincial authorities know about it and let them take care of the investigation. A domestic worker advocacy group may also be able to provide counseling and support in this situation.
