• Provides consultation for any students, staff, faculty, and other members of the University community on issues related to human rights;
• Acts as an Intake Office for formal complaints of discrimination, harassment or sexual violence;
• Oversees and, where required, investigates formal complaints lodged under the University’s Discrimination & Harassment Policy and/or the Sexual Violence Policy;
• When requested, facilitates resolution of concerns and complaints using alternate dispute resolution practices.
• Discrimination and Harassment Policy
• Blue Folder – printable guide about the Discrimination and Harassment process
• McMaster Sexual Violence Policy
• Gold Folder – printable guide  about sexual violence prevention and responding to disclosures of sexual violence

An appointment with a member of the Human Rights Program may be booked by phone, email, or in person.

How to Make a Complaint

A complaint is when someone submits an Incident Report to their supervisor or contacts an Intake Office (by phone, email or in-person or via the Portal) to submit a complaint, or an anonymous complaint, making an allegation of discrimination and/or harassment because they wish to begin a formal University process. It is important to note that filing an anonymous complaint may, in some cases, limit the ability of the University to respond and take action.

To make a complaint or request support, please contact the Human Rights and Dispute Resolution Program directly by phone, email, or in person or via the Portal.

Limits to Confidentiality

The University will share identifying information only in circumstances where it is necessary in order to administer this Policy, to address safety concerns, or to satisfy a legal reporting requirement.  In such circumstances, the minimum amount of information needed to allow such concerns to be addressed, or to meet such requirements, will be disclosed.  Such circumstances include those where:

1. an individual is at risk of harm to self;
2. an individual is at risk of harming others;
3. there are reasonable grounds to be concerned about risk of future violence or the safety of the University and/or broader community;
4. disclosure is required by law, for instance, suspected abuse of someone under the age of 16, reports of intimate partner/domestic violence or to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, or with human rights legislation; and/or
5. to comply with the reporting requirements of regulatory bodies and/or professional licensing bodies.

For more detail about confidentiality and its limits in relation to a complaint of discrimination or harassment, see Section III of the University’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

The Human Rights and Dispute Resolution (HRDR) Program of the Equity & Inclusion Office is one of four intake offices administering complaints under the University’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and the Sexual Violence Policy.

The other intake offices for these policies are:

• Employee/Labour Relations (faculty and staff)
• Student Support & Case Management (students)
• Office of Respectful Conduct in Clinical and Academic Environments (all Community Members in the Faculty of Health Sciences)