Information sheets

The Commission publishes information sheets related to human rights law.  The information sheets cover a range of important human rights issues, providing a brief overview of the topic and, in some instances, citing case law. 

Please note: The dates beside the titles listed below are the dates of the current versions of the information sheets. If you have a previous version of an information sheet (dated earlier than the date below), please discard it and use the current version, which you can link to below. 

Alberta's human rights legislation was amended on October 1, 2009. The Commission is in the process of updating its information sheets to reflect the amendments. If an information sheet is dated before October 2009, it has not yet been updated. Even if the sheet has not been updated, most of the information is still current. The most notable changes to the information sheets will be:

  • The legislation is now called the Alberta Human Rights Act (previously Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act).
  • The Commission is now called the Alberta Human Rights Commission (previously Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission).
  • Sexual orientation is now written into the legislation as a protected ground (previously it was "read in").

You can read more about the amendments in these publications:

The information sheets are arranged under four categories:

1. General history and Commission information

  • Amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation (October 2009)
         TEXT / PDF
  • Protected areas and grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act (February 2012)
         TEXT / PDF
  • Areas and grounds protected (chart.) (February 2012)
         TEXT / PDF

    2. Complaint process

  • Complaint process (March 2007)
        TEXT /PDF
  • Complaint process chart
  • Information for complainants (March 2007)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Information for respondents (March 2007)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Conciliation (March 2007)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Remedy (March 2007)
        TEXT / PDF

    3. Human rights and employment 

  • Pre-employment inquiries (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • A recommended guide for pre-employment inquiries (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Employment: Duty to accommodate (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Employment: Releases, severance agreements and human rights law (December 2012)
        TEXT / PDF 
  • Developing and implementing an effective harassment and sexual harassment policy (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Sample harassment policy (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Harassment as a form of discrimination (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Sexual harassment (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
    A summary for employers (October 2009) 
         TEXT / PDF
  • Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
    A summary for employees (October 2009) 
         TEXT / PDF
  • Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace:
    A summary for doctors (October 2009)
             TEXT / PDF 

    4. Protected grounds

  • Mental or physical disabilities and discrimination (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Employment equity (March 2007)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Equal pay for similar work (March 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Family status and marital status (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Source of income (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Pregnancy and maternity leave (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Sexual orientation (March 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Appearance and dress codes (February 2012)
        TEXT / PDF
  • Racial profiling (March 2012)
        TEXT / PDF 
  • Drug and alcohol dependencies in Alberta workplaces (March 2012)
        TEXT / PDF

    These publications are available in text format and portable document format (PDF - Adobe Acrobat Reader).  Please use the PDF version of a given document when printing a copy for personal or professional use when you want to retain formatting and graphics.  Or order these and other publications online.

    Revised: March 27, 2013

     

     

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    Due to confidentiality concerns, the Commission cannot reply to complaints of discrimination using the Internet. Please contact the Commission by telephone or regular mail if you have a specific complaint.

    You can access information about making FOIP requests for records held by the Commission on our Contact us page.

    The Commission will make publications available in accessible multiple formats upon request. Multiple formats provide access for people with disabilities who do not read conventional print.