Board Dismisses Sexual Harassment

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--Board Dismisses Sexual Harassment Complaint

A human rights board of inquiry has dismissed a complaint filed by a Truro woman who alleged that she was sexually harassed by her employer.

Lydia Martin alleged that Wayne Williams, production manager at Ven-Rez Products Limited, touched her inappropriately on three separate occasions and he and other employees made offensive remarks about her size and appearance.

Ms. Martin was employed by the company from 1978 to 1999. In 1997, Ms. Martin was diagnosed with a neuropsychological disorder and depressive symptoms, which caused her to have memory loss as well as delusional thoughts.

The chair of the board of inquiry, Peter Rogers, dismissed the complaint because he did not find the evidence supported Ms. Martin's allegation that Ven-Rez and Mr. Williams harassed her. He concluded that Ms. Martin is subject to delusional thinking based on psychiatric evaluations conducted by several doctors. The chair noted that her condition might have led her to believe that Mr. Williams and other employees were acting against her.

The decision is available on the commission's website at http://gov.ns.ca/humanrights/ .

Boards of inquiry are the final stage in the human rights complaint process. They are independent, public hearings into complaints of discrimination.