London city council is taking the next steps in addressing the allegations of workplace harassment among civic employees.
Council approved a thorough third-party review of the city’s workplace harassment and discrimination prevention policy during their meeting Tuesday evening.
City manager Martin Hayward says the city is committed to a complete review of the workplace culture at city hall, including members of council.
“We believe it’s important from the point of view of independence, given all the accusations that have gone on, and the concerns being expressed in the media, we feel a third-party review is the way to go.”
Hayward says an outside agency will be brought in to investigate harassment complaints and review the city’s policies, and that will also include a look at councillor conduct.
“That means everyone from council, right the way down through management and through our diligent workers throughout the city,” said Hayward.
“We want to make sure the city is safe, and I think making sure this whole process is covered top to bottom is appropriate.”
Council initially approved the motion, but made changes after the executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre Megan Walker says they were not consulted by staff on the recommendation.
The motion in question was raised by Coun. Tanya Park, asking the mayor to share the letters he received from the London Abused Women’s Centre with members of council and the city manager to help better understand the concerns being raised.
The wording had been changed slightly from Park’s original motion raised at corporate services committee last week. Council eventually passed the motion after the clause was changed to its original wording.
Walker says that since the original report of the allegations to the mayor on March 9, the women’s centre has not been consulted at all.
The first update on the policy and process review will come to council by June.