Workshops on Accommodation and Harrassment

It is the time of year when many areas are working on their draft timetables for the 2025/2026 academic year. ULFA writes to remind all Members of their ability to request formal accommodations for their class schedules. 

Formal accommodations are not the same as preferences. All Members may be asked about their teaching “preferences,” i.e. what would your teaching duties be in an ideal world? However, such preferences do not need to be granted. We often speak of “accommodating” someone in the informal sense of acting in accordance with someone’s preferences. 

“Accommodations” in the formal sense are binding requirements an employer is obliged to follow in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Act. Such accommodations can be made on any of several protected grounds covered under that Act. For example, if you have a medical condition or family status situation that intersects with your teaching duties, you may be eligible for a formal accommodation. Once granted, your teaching duties must respect such an accommodation in a way that takes priority over other institutional needs. 

To get more information about accommodations in general, please view this page on the ULFA website.

More information on the duty to accommodate at work can be found on the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal’s website here.

If you wish to confidentially discuss your situation with someone in the ULFA office, please contact Karl at officer@ulfa.ca.

ULFA will be offering two workshops this year to provide education and awareness around both Human Rights and the Duty to Accommodate and a second one on Harassment and Discrimination and the Right to a Safe Workplace.

Monday, November 25th
2:00 – 3:00 pm

Presented by Cherie Klassen
(ULFA Legal Counsel and specialist in labour and employment law from Blair-Chahley-Klassen.)


This workshop is provided online and the Zoom link has been emailed to Members.

Friday, November 29th
2:00 – 3:00 pm

Presented by Cherie Klassen
(ULFA Legal Counsel and specialist in labour and employment law from Blair-Chahley-Klassen.)


This workshop is provided online and the Zoom link has been emailed to Members.

Know Your Rights Poster