Published on: September 4, 2026

Everyone deserves to work in a safe and respectful workplace. Training can help workers spot problems, speak up, and get help when they need it.

By Marnie Douglas

go2HR, B.C.’s health and safety association for tourism and hospitality, has updated its Safer Spaces program. The program is designed for employers, supervisors, and workers.

The free online program helps workplaces address sexual harassment and other harmful behaviours. With support from Justice Canada, go2HR has expanded the training. It now offers more languages, a new course for supervisors, enhanced content for workers, and an advisory service for employers to help implement prevention programs in their workplace.

Supporting a diverse workforce

Tourism and hospitality workplaces include people from many cultures and backgrounds. Many are new to Canada or starting their first job.

“We wanted to make the program as accessible as possible. Learning is always easier when it’s in your own language.” — Judy Frankel, go2HR’s director of communications.

To make the training easier to use, go2HR now offers courses in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Mandarin, and Tagalog. Frankel says they worked with immigrant and refugee service groups to review the translations. This helped make sure the content is easy to understand.

Building safer workplaces

Apart from physical harm, harassment can affect a worker’s mental health and job performance. It can also cause workers to miss work or leave their jobs, says Tim Pryde, an industry and program specialist with WorkSafeBC.

Employers are responsible for identifying and addressing workplace hazards, including harassment and violence. They must also give workers a way to report concerns and provide support when help is needed.

Helping supervisors respond to concerns

The updated program includes a new course for supervisors on how to handle workplace complaints. It gives supervisors tools to respond to concerns and help workers find support.

“Supervisors play an important role in shaping workplace culture. They support workers, so it’s helpful for them to have this course,” says Pryde. “We want workers to feel comfortable raising concerns with their supervisors.”

Empowering and supporting workers

Workers also help create respectful workplaces. The training explains workers’ rights and how they can help keep themselves and their co-workers safe.

“This program can help employers meet these responsibilities. The learning tools are practical and include real-life examples and discussion guides.” — Tim Pryde, an industry and program specialist with WorkSafeBC.

Pryde encourages employers to use groups such as go2HR for training and support. Programs like Safer Spaces can help build workplaces where workers feel safe speaking up.

For more information

Learn more about workplace rights and responsibilities and psychological health and safety at worksafebc.com.

For those in hospitality and tourism, find out more about the Safer Spaces training at go2HR.ca.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of WorkSafe Magazine.

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