Prevention of harassment and violence in the workplace – CAF members

Start to learn about your rights and responsibilities by consulting the following on-line resources:

• Harassment prevention services in the CAF.

• Your rights and responsibilities are described in DAOD 5012-0.
• Harassment Prevention and Resolution Instructions are available only on the Defence Team Intranet. If you are unable to access the Intranet, contact your supervisor or our office for assistance.
• Human rights and discrimination directives are found in DAOD 5516-0 and DAOD 5012-0.
• Alternative dispute resolution. 

You should also consult the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) service. This service helps active CAF members submit, track, and resolve complaints. To explore your options or submit a formal complaint, contact a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) office.

Be aware that you have the right to receive assistance from someone in a position of responsibility.

Be sure to document any actions and attempts you take to resolve the matter.

Responsible Officers (RO) must keep complainants and respondents informed during a workplace harassment or violence complaint investigation. For information about the RO’s responsibilities, review the Harassment Prevention and Resolution Instructions which are available only on the Defence Team Intranet.

If the RO is not keeping you informed about the investigation’s process, write a memorandum to your commanding officer requesting an update and submit it to your chain of command. If you receive no response within 30 days, send a follow-up memorandum with a copy of the original.

You can also request an update through the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) service. The ICCM helps active CAF members submit, track, and resolve complaints. To confirm the status of a complaint, contact a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) office.

Under the Harassment Prevention and Resolution Instructions which are available only on the Defence Team Intranet, complaints are a priority. Most complaint resolution processes are completed within six months. Responsible Officers (RO) must acknowledge receipt of a complaint, and notify the respondent within seven calendar days. Other factors such as operational deployments and extended sick leave can affect the resolution of the file. The RO is responsible for keeping both parties informed about the complaint status.

If your complaint is overdue, send a request in writing to the RO or Unit Harassment Advisor in order to obtain a status update. If a formal investigation has been launched, you may request an update through the investigator assigned to your workplace harassment or violence complaint.

You can also make a request through the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) service. To confirm the status of a complaint, contact a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) office.

If you are not satisfied with the treatment of your complaint, you can submit a grievance to your commanding officer. For more information, refer to our grievance process page.

Contact a CCMS office for help if compelling reasons are preventing you from addressing your concerns through regular channels. You can also contact our office. Where compelling circumstances exist, we can ensure the appropriate parties are aware of your circumstances. 

You can pursue a formal and informal complaint resolution simultaneously by contacting our office and the CCMS office. Remember that pursuing a resolution informally does not extend the deadlines of the applicable formal process.

Submit a grievance to your commanding officer. You can also refer to our grievance process page for more information.

Contact our office if compelling reasons prevent you from addressing your concerns through regular channels. Compelling reasons could include involvement of the chain of command, time sensitivity, health, security, or financial concerns for you or your family. Where compelling reasons exist, our office can ensure the appropriate parties are aware of your circumstances.