Blue shirt campaign aims to stop workplace bullying
Posted October 19, 2012 7:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As Toronto students pay tribute to victims of bullying, a blue-shirt campaign aims to raise awareness about bullying among adults.
Municipalities across the GTA have declared Friday Stop Workplace Harassment Day, including Toronto mayor Rob Ford.
“Harassment affects the overall ‘health’ of an organization,” Ford said in a statement.
Ford noted that bullying can lead to increased absenteeism, increased stress, decreased productivity and motivation, decreased morale and a high employee turnover.
Employees at participating companies are encouraged to wear blue shirts to spark communication.
Richmond Hill, Markham and Newmarket city councils are also participating.
Meanwhile, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) held a moment of silence at 11 a.m. Friday to remember victims of bullying who have committed suicide, and those who are bullied right now.
The TDSB, which is Canada’s largest school board, said that 250,000 of its students and 40,000 of its staff members participated.
“It hurts me so much when people are treated wrong and then they take their own life because no one should go through that,” student Nina Taylor told CityNews.
The moment of silence took place the same day as vigils for British Columbia teen Amanda Todd, who took her own life last week.
The 15-year-old had posted a YouTube video about being bullied using hand-written notes. The video ended with the message: “I have nobody. I need someone.”
