Barbados
Overview
Please review the information below and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under national law.
Applicable Laws
The primary national laws prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics are:
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any characteristic set forth below is prohibited in Barbados.
- Race
- Origin
- Political opinion
- Trade union affiliation
- Colour
- Creed
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Social status
- Marital status
- Domestic partnership status
- Pregnancy
- Maternity
- Family responsibility
- Medical condition
- Disability
- Age
- Physical feature
- Any characteristic which appertains generally or is generally imputed
to a person on the basis of any ground listed above.
Regional, state or other political subdivision laws may provide additional, separate standards and remedies for certain prohibited conduct.
Definitions
Sexual Harassment
The Employment Sexual Harassment (Prevention) Act, 2017 defines sexual harassment as:
- the use of sexually suggestive words, comments, jokes, gestures or
actions that annoy, alarm or abuse a person; - the initiation of uninvited physical contact with a person;
- the initiation of unwelcome sexual advances or the requests of sexual
favours from a person; - asking a person intrusive questions that are of a sexual nature that
pertain to that person’s private life; - transmitting sexually offensive writing or material of any kind;
- making sexually offensive telephone calls to a person; or
- any other sexually suggestive conduct of an offensive nature
- the use of sexually suggestive words, comments, jokes, gestures or
- in circumstances where a reasonable person would consider the conduct to be offensive.
Under the Act, a single incident may constitute sexual harassment.
Filing a Claim in Barbados
A claim for employment discrimination or harassment may be filed with the Chief Labour Officer, Department of Labour within the Ministry of Labour.
Employment discrimination and harassment claims may also be filed in court.
Potential Remedies
In Barbados, an employee who has experienced workplace discrimination or harassment may be entitled to monetary and other remedies. An employer may be required to take certain actions to correct or redress discriminatory harassment or violations of workplace safety standards. Potential remedies are listed below.
- Hiring
- Transfers
- Reassignments
- Promotions
- Reinstatement to a position
- Compensation for lost wages and benefits
- Damages for injury to dignity or feelings
- Cease and desist orders
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a complaint relating to discrimination or harassment or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.