{"id":19112,"date":"2021-02-04T13:58:28","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T18:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/?p=19112"},"modified":"2026-08-26T10:45:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T14:45:24","slug":"workplace-harassment-false-accusation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Workplace harassment can take many forms: psychological, discriminatory or sexual. Harassment in the workplace can lead to complaints, an investigation and serious consequences. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/services\/labour-and-employment-law\/\">labour lawyers<\/a> in Qu\u00e9bec City and L\u00e9vis explain the legal framework that applies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-definition-et-application\"><strong>Definition and scope<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article presents the definition and legal framework that apply to workplace harassment under the Act respecting labour standards (the \u201cAct\u201d). Different rules may apply to federally regulated businesses or to businesses governed by a collective agreement.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-harcelement-psychologique-sexuel-et-discriminatoire\"><strong>Psychological, sexual and discriminatory harassment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Act defines workplace harassment as vexatious behaviour. It takes the form of repeated conduct, words or actions that are hostile or unwanted, that affect the employee\u2019s dignity or psychological or physical integrity, and that make the work environment harmful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Act also specifies that a single serious incident of such behaviour can constitute workplace harassment if it has a lasting harmful effect on the employee. <\/p>\n\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This definition covers psychological and sexual harassment in the workplace. It also covers \u201cdiscriminatory\u201d harassment, based on one of the grounds of discrimination listed in the Quebec <em>Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms<\/em>: race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age (except as provided by law), religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-les-salaries-qui-sont-proteges\"><strong>Who is protected<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the Act, the legal protection against workplace harassment applies to employees, senior managers, students and interns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-employed workers who run their own business and employees of federal businesses cannot file a harassment complaint under the <em>Act respecting labour standards<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fardeau-de-preuve-nbsp-les-criteres-a-prouver\"><strong>Burden of proof: the criteria to prove<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The employee must prove that all of the following criteria are met to establish workplace harassment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Criterion 1: vexatious behaviour <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vexatious behaviour is behaviour that is offensive, abusive or humiliating for the employee. Any other reasonable person in the employee\u2019s situation would consider the behaviour vexatious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Criterion 2: repeated or serious behaviour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be considered harassment, the vexatious behaviour, conduct, words or actions must occur repeatedly or add up over time. A single act that is serious enough can also constitute harassment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Criterion 3: hostile or unwanted behaviour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The actions, conduct or words must be hostile or unwanted. Hostile means aggressive, threatening or unfavourable behaviour. Unwanted means behaviour that is not wanted or welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Criterion 4: harm to dignity or integrity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The behaviour must affect the employee\u2019s dignity or physical or psychological integrity. In other words, the harassment must have a negative effect on the person who experiences it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Criterion 5: a harmful work environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The harassment must cause the employee\u2019s work environment to deteriorate. For example, the victim may withdraw or be isolated by co-workers, or may no longer be able to perform their duties properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plaintes-et-recours-en-cas-de-harcelement\"><strong>Complaints and remedies for harassment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Act respecting labour standards<\/em> provides protection against workplace harassment. It gives every employee the right to a work environment free from harassment. It also requires the employer to prevent harassment and to put a stop to any harassment that is reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An employee who is a victim of workplace harassment can first complain to the employer and use the measures the employer has put in place. The employee can also go to the designated resource persons to report the harassment. If the employer cannot resolve the situation, if the investigation is not conducted properly, or if the employee is not satisfied with how the complaint was handled, the employee can file a formal complaint under the provisions of the Act. Where to file a workplace harassment complaint depends on the employee\u2019s status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A non-unionized employee covered by the Act must file the complaint with the Commission des normes, de l\u2019\u00e9quit\u00e9, de la sant\u00e9 et de la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 du travail (CNESST), while a unionized employee must file the complaint with their union. <\/p>\n\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deadline for filing a complaint is two years after the last incident of harassment, unless a collective agreement sets a different deadline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-obligations-de-l-employeur\"><strong>Employer obligations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-prevention-du-harcelement\"><strong>Preventing harassment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The employer must take reasonable action to prevent harassment. The Act therefore requires the employer to adopt a policy on preventing workplace harassment and handling complaints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The employer must make this policy available to the members of its organization, and it may designate one or more resource persons to handle and resolve harassment situations brought to their attention.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-enquete-pour-harcelement-au-travail\"><strong>Workplace harassment investigations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the employer is required to provide employees with a work environment free from harassment, it must put a stop to any harassment brought to its attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do so, it must gather the versions of the parties involved through an investigation, stop unacceptable behaviour, impose sanctions, and so on.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fausse-accusation-de-harcelement-nbsp-au-travail\"><strong>False accusations of workplace harassment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Frivolous complaint, abusive complaint, false complaint or untrue accusation: these all describe an employee who falsely claims to be a victim of workplace harassment. In this situation, the employee can be disciplined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before reporting harassment or filing a complaint, an employee must make sure the situation is really harassment, as opposed to a conflict with a co-worker, a difference of opinion with a supervisor or the employer\u2019s exercise of its management rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-la-politique-de-prevention-du-harcelement\"><strong>The harassment prevention policy<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The employer\u2019s policy on preventing workplace harassment and handling complaints could include a section on the consequences of making false accusations. This section could set out the disciplinary measures that can be imposed for untrue accusations, depending on the seriousness of the misconduct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, even if the policy has no such section, the employer could justify disciplinary action, since the employee will have breached their duty of loyalty and their obligation to act in good faith by filing an unfounded harassment complaint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An untrue accusation against a co-worker could also, in itself, constitute harassment if the criteria set out above are met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-de-lourdes-consequences\"><strong>Serious consequences<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the employer\u2019s investigation concludes that there was a <strong>false accusation<\/strong>, the employee who made the untrue accusations can face disciplinary measures up to and including dismissal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The courts have repeatedly recognized that making untrue statements is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/serious-misconduct-labour-standards-quebec\/\">serious misconduct<\/a><\/strong> that can break the bond of trust with the employer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The courts have noted that filing an unfounded complaint can justify the employer in imposing a severe sanction, up to and including dismissal, without applying the principle of progressive discipline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, the falsely accused employee could sue the complainant for defamation in the civil courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-contactez-nous\"><strong>Contact us<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We invite you to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/contact\/\">contact&nbsp;today<\/a> the labour lawyers at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/\">&nbsp;Verreau Dufresne Avocats<\/a> for advice on workplace harassment. <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Workplace harassment can take many forms: psychological, discriminatory or sexual. Harassment in the workplace can lead to complaints, an investigation and serious consequences. Our labour lawyers in Qu\u00e9bec City and L\u00e9vis explain the legal framework that applies. Definition and scope This article presents the definition and legal framework that apply to workplace harassment under the<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/\" title=\"ReadWorkplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":9470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[143],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment-termination"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.7 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Workplace Harassment: False Accusations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Accused of harassment at work? Learn how the investigation works and what a false accusation can lead to. Our labour lawyers in Qu\u00e9bec City explain.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Workplace harassment can take many forms: psychological, discriminatory or sexual. Harassment in the workplace can lead to complaints, an investigation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Verreau Dufresne Avocats\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/verreaudufresneavocats\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1456\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"816\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Me Marie-Michelle Savard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@VerreauDufresne\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VerreauDufresne\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Me Marie-Michelle Savard\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Me Marie-Michelle Savard\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/108f6129ef04a58b7d24e87307e21522\"},\"headline\":\"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1088,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/harcelement.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Employment and termination\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/\",\"name\":\"Workplace Harassment: False Accusations\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/harcelement.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00\",\"description\":\"Accused of harassment at work? Learn how the investigation works and what a false accusation can lead to. Our labour lawyers in Qu\u00e9bec City explain.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/harcelement.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/harcelement.png\",\"width\":1456,\"height\":816},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/publications\\\/employment-termination\\\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Verreau Dufresne Avocats\",\"description\":\"Qu\u00e9bec City and L\u00e9vis\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Verreau Dufresne Avocats\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/cropped-VDA_logoALT_octrose327x86.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/cropped-VDA_logoALT_octrose327x86.png\",\"width\":327,\"height\":81,\"caption\":\"Verreau Dufresne Avocats\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/verreaudufresneavocats\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/VerreauDufresne\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/3542179\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/verreaudufresne_avocats\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/108f6129ef04a58b7d24e87307e21522\",\"name\":\"Me Marie-Michelle Savard\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Me Marie-Michelle Savard\"},\"description\":\"Associ\u00e9e chez Verreau Dufresne Avocats, Me Marie-Michelle Savard concentre sa pratique en droit du travail, o\u00f9 elle repr\u00e9sente entreprises et particuliers avec rigueur et approche personnalis\u00e9e. Forte d\u2019une exp\u00e9rience plaidante devant plusieurs instances provinciales et f\u00e9d\u00e9rales, elle se distingue par son esprit analytique, h\u00e9rit\u00e9 de sa formation scientifique, et par sa capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 trouver des solutions concr\u00e8tes \u00e0 des enjeux complexes.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\\\/en\\\/equipe\\\/marie-michelle-savard-avocate\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Workplace Harassment: False Accusations","description":"Accused of harassment at work? Learn how the investigation works and what a false accusation can lead to. Our labour lawyers in Qu\u00e9bec City explain.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused","og_description":"Workplace harassment can take many forms: psychological, discriminatory or sexual. Harassment in the workplace can lead to complaints, an investigation","og_url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/","og_site_name":"Verreau Dufresne Avocats","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/verreaudufresneavocats\/","article_published_time":"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1456,"height":816,"url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@VerreauDufresne","twitter_site":"@VerreauDufresne","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/"},"author":{"name":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/108f6129ef04a58b7d24e87307e21522"},"headline":"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused","datePublished":"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/"},"wordCount":1088,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png","articleSection":["Employment and termination"],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/","name":"Workplace Harassment: False Accusations","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png","datePublished":"2021-02-04T18:58:28+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-26T14:45:24+00:00","description":"Accused of harassment at work? Learn how the investigation works and what a false accusation can lead to. Our labour lawyers in Qu\u00e9bec City explain.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement.png","width":1456,"height":816},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/workplace-harassment-false-accusation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Workplace Harassment: What to Do If You Are Accused"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/","name":"Verreau Dufresne Avocats","description":"Qu\u00e9bec City and L\u00e9vis","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Verreau Dufresne Avocats","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cropped-VDA_logoALT_octrose327x86.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cropped-VDA_logoALT_octrose327x86.png","width":327,"height":81,"caption":"Verreau Dufresne Avocats"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/verreaudufresneavocats\/","https:\/\/x.com\/VerreauDufresne","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/3542179\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/verreaudufresne_avocats\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/108f6129ef04a58b7d24e87307e21522","name":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d929fe6483e2703ae1ffddcd9cdfffe2449f943af4778ecc9b5a996f05464f7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard"},"description":"Associ\u00e9e chez Verreau Dufresne Avocats, Me Marie-Michelle Savard concentre sa pratique en droit du travail, o\u00f9 elle repr\u00e9sente entreprises et particuliers avec rigueur et approche personnalis\u00e9e. Forte d\u2019une exp\u00e9rience plaidante devant plusieurs instances provinciales et f\u00e9d\u00e9rales, elle se distingue par son esprit analytique, h\u00e9rit\u00e9 de sa formation scientifique, et par sa capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 trouver des solutions concr\u00e8tes \u00e0 des enjeux complexes.","url":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/equipe\/marie-michelle-savard-avocate\/"}]}},"author_meta":{"display_name":"Me Marie-Michelle Savard","author_link":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/equipe\/marie-michelle-savard-avocate\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/harcelement-800x615.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/publications\/employment-termination\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Employment and termination<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Employment and termination<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 6 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 4 February 2021","modified":"Updated on 26 August 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 4 February 2021 13:58","modified":"Updated on 26 August 2026 10:45"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19112"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19338,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19112\/revisions\/19338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.verreaudufresneavocats.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}