The Calgary Police Service is set to undergo a third-party review of its workplace culture after ongoing issues with harassment and bullying were identified by the Calgary Police Commission. Despite previous efforts to reform the workplace environment, problems have persisted, as indicated by employee surveys and recent public allegations made by a former employee. The commission has been aware of these issues since 2011 and has been tracking employee perceptions of how bullying and harassment are being addressed since 2016. Additionally, recommendations from a 2013 workplace audit were not fully implemented, prompting the need for a more comprehensive evaluation of the actions taken so far.
In response to the ongoing concerns raised by employees and external sources, the Calgary Police Commission has decided to bring in an outside expert to conduct a current review or audit of the Calgary Police Service workplace. This review will aim to assess whether the actions taken to date have been effective in addressing workplace issues, identify any persisting problems, and determine what needs to be done differently to further combat bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the organization. The commission is committed to conducting this review transparently and allowing CPS employees to provide feedback confidentially.
Angela Whitney, a former HR director at CPS, recently went public with concerns about harassment and bullying behaviors she witnessed at the organization. In response, Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld filed a lawsuit against Whitney, alleging that her comments have caused irreparable harm to CPS and hindered the organization’s ability to continue and modernize its HR processes. The lawsuit claims that Whitney’s disclosure of confidential information about employees involved in HR processes may impact employees’ trust in the HR process and their willingness to participate. It is important to note that none of the claims in the lawsuit have been tested in court, and a statement of defense has not yet been filed.
The decision to initiate a third-party review of the Calgary Police Service workplace culture is intended to address the ongoing concerns raised by employees and external sources, such as Angela Whitney. By bringing in an outside expert to conduct the review, the Calgary Police Commission aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the workplace environment, identify any persisting issues related to bullying and harassment, and determine necessary actions to create a safer and more inclusive workplace for CPS employees. The commission is committed to ensuring transparency throughout the review process and providing employees with the opportunity to share their feedback confidentially.
The Calgary Police Commission has recognized the need for a more comprehensive evaluation of the actions taken thus far to address workplace culture issues within the Calgary Police Service. Despite previous efforts to reform the workplace environment, including tracking employee perceptions of bullying and harassment since 2016, issues have persisted, prompting the decision to conduct a third-party review. The commission aims to determine whether the actions taken to date are moving the workplace in the right direction, identify any persisting issues, and establish new strategies to further combat bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the organization. This review process will be conducted transparently and allow CPS employees to provide feedback confidentially.
As the third-party review of the Calgary Police Service workplace culture is set to begin, the organization faces ongoing challenges related to harassment and bullying behaviors. The decision to bring in an outside expert to conduct the review comes in response to concerns raised by employees, external sources, and recent public allegations made by a former employee. The review aims to assess the effectiveness of previous actions taken to address workplace issues, identify any persisting problems, and determine new strategies to address bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the organization. The Calgary Police Commission is committed to addressing these concerns transparently and providing CPS employees with the opportunity to share their feedback confidentially.
