Attention Registered Attendees: The conference platform is now open. Please check your email for the access link. Sessions begin at 8:30 AM EST on Thursday, September 30.
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Workplace investigations are complex, and even seasoned investigators experience challenges conducting them. That’s why HRPA has partnered with Bernardi HR Law LLP to develop a half-day Workplace Investigations Micro-Conference that will go beyond the basics and focus on key challenges and issues that arise during workplace investigations.
Location:
ON24 Virtual Conference
Date:
September 30, 2021
(Registration closes 12 PM, September 29, 2021)
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Engagement Hub Opens
8:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Learning Program
4.5 CPD Hours
Price:
(Until August 30, 2021)
HRPA Members: $75 + Taxes
Non-Members: $100 + Taxes
STANDARD PRICING:
(After August 30, 2021)
HRPA Members: $95 + Taxes
Non-Members: $120 + Taxes
Contact Amber Pilon, Specialist, Sales and Sponsorship Support, to learn more about partnership or sponsorship opportunities.
Tel: 416.923.2324 ext. 309
Email: apilon@hrpa.ca
Developed in partnership with
Agenda
This event is happening in the Eastern Standard timezone. Please also note that HRPA reserves the right to record any sessions.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Engagement Hub Opens
Delegates can log in to download materials, read speaker bios, and get oriented to the Hub.
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Lauren Bernardi and Kris Tierney
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Session 1: Can Investigations Promote Well-being? Psychologically Safe and Trauma-informed Approaches
Workplace investigations are essential for addressing harassment and resolving conflict, but they can also be extremely stressful for all parties. An investigation is counterproductive if it further traumatizes a complainant who is being harassed or if it entrenches the very conflict the complainant is seeking to resolve. How can we investigate in a way that promotes psychological well-being?
In this session, you will learn techniques to conduct fair and legally defensible investigations that protect participants’ well-being, including trauma-informed approaches for all stages of an investigation.
Speakers
Robert Richler and Natasha Savoline
9:45 AM – 9:55 AM
Break
9:55 AM – 11:10 AM
Session 2: Complex Harassment Complaints – Race, Gender, Mobbing and Systemic Discrimination
With increasing scrutiny of harassment and discrimination allegations, it is more important than ever to get them right. Yet, the conduct that causes the greatest damage can also be the most challenging to investigate and root out.
This session explores the subtleties and nuances that arise in complex harassment complaints, including those pertaining to mobbing/group bullying, gender-based harassment, and systemic discrimination, including race-based discrimination.
Speakers: Lauren Bernardi and Asha Rampersad
11:10 AM – 11:20 AM
Break
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Session 3: Diving Deeper – Advanced Investigation Techniques
In a world that has gone virtual, how do we move investigations online while keeping them robust and defensible? How do we make findings in unclear cases? What Is the relationship between credibility, facts, evidence, and law, and how do we harness This relationship? Should we even investigate, or are other interventions more appropriate?
In this session, we will take a practical look at these more challenging aspects of workplace investigations.
Speakers: Brian Gottheil and Suhaib Ibrahim
12:20 PM – 12:30 PM
Break
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Hot Seat Panel
Time to put our experts on the “hot seat” to address some “burning” questions! A panel of senior investigators will tackle the thorniest issues in workplace investigations in this engaging, rapid-“fire” session to conclude the micro-conference.
All Speakers
Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
September 30 coincides with the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” and Orange Shirt Day; a day dedicated to raising awareness and initiating conversation across Canada regarding the history and legacy of residential schools. Staying true to HRPA’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity (EDII), this micro-conference will begin with an extended land acknowledgement in recognition of the day. In addition, the day will highlight educational resources and community events that attendees seeking to better understand Truth and Reconciliation and Canada’s residential school history are invited to check out. The HRPA team will also be donning orange t-shirts and participants are encouraged to do the same.
Speakers Bios
Lauren Bernardi
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Lauren brings a wealth of experience in workplace respect, harassment, and violence, having investigated elected officials including mayors and municipal councilors as well as athletic coaches. She also investigates complex complaints including those pertaining to sexual harassment and sexual assault, psychological harassment/bullying, systemic discrimination, and allegations of discrimination/harassment based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and family status. Additionally, Lauren provides services to public and private sector employers and to First Nations. She has particular expertise with municipalities and their councils, police agencies, fire services, colleges, and universities.
Considered a thought-leader in workplace respect and mental health, Lauren is the Program Chair of the Osgoode Professional Development Advanced Workplace Investigations Program and Program Co-Chair for the Osgoode Professional Development Certificate Program in Workplace Mental Health Law. She developed and teaches the HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program, and developed and was Co-Chair of the Law Society of Ontario’s Program: Workplace Investigations – A Comprehensive Look at Emerging Issues and Practical Solutions.
A prolific writer, Lauren is the author of a leading book on workplace policies: “Powerful Employment Policies” (Carswell). She has also written many articles on human resource law for various business publications, including Canadian HR Reporter and Canadian Employment Law Today. Her expertise has been quoted in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and the National Post. She is a frequent guest expert on CBC Radio’s Ontario Today program, and serves on the board of Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Dufferin and of Mindful Employer Canada.
Robert Richler
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Robert is an experienced investigator and employment lawyer. He has obtained a wide range of experience conducting investigations as both in-house counsel and in private practice.
Robert offers investigation services to employers ranging from family run restaurants to multinational mining corporations. He has worked with both unionized and non-unionized workforces.
Robert’s time as in-house counsel, along with his MBA training, has given him great insight into the needs and challenges of organizations. He is attuned to the considerations organizations must weigh when dealing with investigations and determining how to address their findings.
Natasha Savoline
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Natasha’s passion for fairness and creating positive and respectful workplaces informs her work as an experienced workplace investigator. She is skilled at investigating complex, multi-party, and sensitive issues in areas such as harassment, mobbing, violence in the workplace, sexual harassment and sexual violence, code of conduct violations and discrimination based on disability, race, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
Natasha has provided investigation services for municipalities and their councils, long term care homes, police services, fire departments, universities, and private companies. In addition to conducting workplace investigations, Natasha provides sensitivity training and workplace remediation services. She also teaches the three-day HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program and regularly speaks at the Osgoode Professional Development Advanced Workplace Investigations Program. As well as being a frequent presenter at the HRPA Annual Conference attended by HR professionals from across the country, she often speaks at the Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association (OMHRA) semi-annual conference on a wide range of legal topics; and is a regular presenter at HRPA chapter events across the GTA.
Training HR professionals on conducting investigations and coaching organizations during internal investigations to ensure a fair and balanced process is another feather in her cap. Furthermore, Natasha has co-authored the Ontario Human Rights Code: Quick Reference, 2009, Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Act: Quick Reference, 2010 and the Human Resource Management textbook, 2011. She has also been published in various newsletters and magazines, including The Lawyer’s Daily, Municipal World and the Ontario Municipal HR Association’s Echo newsletter.
Asha Rampersad
B.A., M.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
With significant expertise in all facets of employment and labour law and extensive knowledge about the intersectionality between grounds under the Human Rights Code, Asha uses a trauma-informed and anti-oppression lens when conducting investigations. Her investigative experience includes conducting investigations into sexual harassment and sexual assault, systemic racism and racial discrimination, as well as discrimination and harassment on the basis of disability, religion, and other Code-grounds.
Asha has significant expertise in diversity and inclusion, human rights disability management, accommodation issues and conducting workplace investigations; and has conducted many complex and highly sensitive workplace investigations for provincially and federally regulated employers including universities, colleges, school boards, municipalities, police services, First Nations, private companies, and not-for-profit organizations. She has been selected to speak at many employment and labour conferences across Canada, and is part of the faculty for the Osgoode Mental Health Law and Labour Law Certificate Programs. Asha also teaches constitutional law at Wilfrid University as well as the HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program.
In addition to this, Asha has been quoted in the Law Times about an employer’s duty to investigate and has been published extensively in various newsletters and magazines, including the Ontario Bar Association’s Labour & Employment section, the Ontario Municipal HR Association’s Echo newsletter, Mondaq, Profitable Practice, HRM Canada and the Accessibility News on employers’ AODA obligations. She has also appeared as a guest expert on CBC Radio.
Brian Gottheil
B.A., J.D., Lawyer and HR Advisor
As an experienced workplace investigator, Brian is on the federal harassment and violence prevention roster of investigators. He conducts investigations of diverse issues such as psychological harassment and bullying, sexual harassment, racial harassment and discrimination, manager and team conflict, and nonprofit governance. He has conducted investigations for a variety of organizations, including municipal employers, First Nations, academic institutions, trade unions, large financial services firms, non-profit organizations, and small and medium sized businesses, among others.
A frequent presenter at the Workplace Investigations Certificate Program offered in partnership with the HRPA and Osgoode Professional Development, Brian has also presented at the HRPA Annual Conference and at several HRPA local chapters, including on topics related to workplace investigations. He spoke on the topic of workplace harassment and mental health for the Osgoode Professional Development Workplace Mental Health Law Certificate Program in 2019 and is the current Co-Chair of this program, along with Lauren Bernardi.
Brian is passionate about creating positive workplace cultures. Besides his investigation work, he has conducted many workplace cultural assessments to identify concerns about the work environment and provide recommendations for restoration. He has also delivered training on Transforming Toxic Teams and prepared the Transforming Toxic Teams Toolkit. To add, Brian is an ongoing contributor to Powerful Employment Policies and has appeared as a guest expert on CBC Radio, the Mississauga Board of Trade’s podcast, and Sauga960 AM.
Suhaib Ibrahim
B.A., J.D., Lawyer and HR Advisor
A proponent of work environments that owe their success to a healthy culture in which everyone feels respected and heard, Suhaib takes a balanced approach to workplace challenges and gets to the heart of the issues that drive conflict and lead to harassment.
Suhaib is adept at listening to people and has a strong appreciation for different perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. He has investigated allegations of racial discrimination and harassment, religious discrimination and harassment, sexual harassment, workplace harassment and bullying, and harassment based on sexual orientation. He has conducted investigations for municipalities, universities, unions, and large private companies.
As a law student, Suhaib worked with community organizations and elementary schools. He also provided important educational sessions to youth in the Jane and Finch community about their legal rights.
Lauren Bernardi
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Lauren brings a wealth of experience in workplace respect, harassment, and violence, having investigated elected officials including mayors and municipal councilors as well as athletic coaches. She also investigates complex complaints including those pertaining to sexual harassment and sexual assault, psychological harassment/bullying, systemic discrimination, and allegations of discrimination/harassment based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and family status. Additionally, Lauren provides services to public and private sector employers and to First Nations. She has particular expertise with municipalities and their councils, police agencies, fire services, colleges, and universities.
Considered a thought-leader in workplace respect and mental health, Lauren is the Program Chair of the Osgoode Professional Development Advanced Workplace Investigations Program and Program Co-Chair for the Osgoode Professional Development Certificate Program in Workplace Mental Health Law. She developed and teaches the HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program, and developed and was Co-Chair of the Law Society of Ontario’s Program: Workplace Investigations – A Comprehensive Look at Emerging Issues and Practical Solutions.
A prolific writer, Lauren is the author of a leading book on workplace policies: “Powerful Employment Policies” (Carswell). She has also written many articles on human resource law for various business publications, including Canadian HR Reporter and Canadian Employment Law Today. Her expertise has been quoted in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and the National Post. She is a frequent guest expert on CBC Radio’s Ontario Today program, and serves on the board of Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Dufferin and of Mindful Employer Canada.
Robert Richler
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Robert is an experienced investigator and employment lawyer. He has obtained a wide range of experience conducting investigations as both in-house counsel and in private practice.
Robert offers investigation services to employers ranging from family run restaurants to multinational mining corporations. He has worked with both unionized and non-unionized workforces.
Robert’s time as in-house counsel, along with his MBA training, has given him great insight into the needs and challenges of organizations. He is attuned to the considerations organizations must weigh when dealing with investigations and determining how to address their findings.
Natasha Savoline
B.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
Natasha’s passion for fairness and creating positive and respectful workplaces informs her work as an experienced workplace investigator. She is skilled at investigating complex, multi-party, and sensitive issues in areas such as harassment, mobbing, violence in the workplace, sexual harassment and sexual violence, code of conduct violations and discrimination based on disability, race, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
Natasha has provided investigation services for municipalities and their councils, long term care homes, police services, fire departments, universities, and private companies. In addition to conducting workplace investigations, Natasha provides sensitivity training and workplace remediation services. She also teaches the three-day HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program and regularly speaks at the Osgoode Professional Development Advanced Workplace Investigations Program. As well as being a frequent presenter at the HRPA Annual Conference attended by HR professionals from across the country, she often speaks at the Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association (OMHRA) semi-annual conference on a wide range of legal topics; and is a regular presenter at HRPA chapter events across the GTA.
Training HR professionals on conducting investigations and coaching organizations during internal investigations to ensure a fair and balanced process is another feather in her cap. Furthermore, Natasha has co-authored the Ontario Human Rights Code: Quick Reference, 2009, Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Act: Quick Reference, 2010 and the Human Resource Management textbook, 2011. She has also been published in various newsletters and magazines, including The Lawyer’s Daily, Municipal World and the Ontario Municipal HR Association’s Echo newsletter.
Asha Rampersad
B.A., M.A., LL.B., Lawyer and HR Advisor
With significant expertise in all facets of employment and labour law and extensive knowledge about the intersectionality between grounds under the Human Rights Code, Asha uses a trauma-informed and anti-oppression lens when conducting investigations. Her investigative experience includes conducting investigations into sexual harassment and sexual assault, systemic racism and racial discrimination, as well as discrimination and harassment on the basis of disability, religion, and other Code-grounds.
Asha has significant expertise in diversity and inclusion, human rights disability management, accommodation issues and conducting workplace investigations; and has conducted many complex and highly sensitive workplace investigations for provincially and federally regulated employers including universities, colleges, school boards, municipalities, police services, First Nations, private companies, and not-for-profit organizations. She has been selected to speak at many employment and labour conferences across Canada, and is part of the faculty for the Osgoode Mental Health Law and Labour Law Certificate Programs. Asha also teaches constitutional law at Wilfrid University as well as the HRPA Workplace Investigations Training and Certificate Program.
In addition to this, Asha has been quoted in the Law Times about an employer’s duty to investigate and has been published extensively in various newsletters and magazines, including the Ontario Bar Association’s Labour & Employment section, the Ontario Municipal HR Association’s Echo newsletter, Mondaq, Profitable Practice, HRM Canada and the Accessibility News on employers’ AODA obligations. She has also appeared as a guest expert on CBC Radio.
Brian Gottheil
B.A., J.D., Lawyer and HR Advisor
As an experienced workplace investigator, Brian is on the federal harassment and violence prevention roster of investigators. He conducts investigations of diverse issues such as psychological harassment and bullying, sexual harassment, racial harassment and discrimination, manager and team conflict, and nonprofit governance. He has conducted investigations for a variety of organizations, including municipal employers, First Nations, academic institutions, trade unions, large financial services firms, non-profit organizations, and small and medium sized businesses, among others.
A frequent presenter at the Workplace Investigations Certificate Program offered in partnership with the HRPA and Osgoode Professional Development, Brian has also presented at the HRPA Annual Conference and at several HRPA local chapters, including on topics related to workplace investigations. He spoke on the topic of workplace harassment and mental health for the Osgoode Professional Development Workplace Mental Health Law Certificate Program in 2019 and is the current Co-Chair of this program, along with Lauren Bernardi.
Brian is passionate about creating positive workplace cultures. Besides his investigation work, he has conducted many workplace cultural assessments to identify concerns about the work environment and provide recommendations for restoration. He has also delivered training on Transforming Toxic Teams and prepared the Transforming Toxic Teams Toolkit. To add, Brian is an ongoing contributor to Powerful Employment Policies and has appeared as a guest expert on CBC Radio, the Mississauga Board of Trade’s podcast, and Sauga960 AM.
Suhaib Ibrahim
B.A., J.D., Lawyer and HR Advisor
A proponent of work environments that owe their success to a healthy culture in which everyone feels respected and heard, Suhaib takes a balanced approach to workplace challenges and gets to the heart of the issues that drive conflict and lead to harassment.
Suhaib is adept at listening to people and has a strong appreciation for different perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. He has investigated allegations of racial discrimination and harassment, religious discrimination and harassment, sexual harassment, workplace harassment and bullying, and harassment based on sexual orientation. He has conducted investigations for municipalities, universities, unions, and large private companies.
As a law student, Suhaib worked with community organizations and elementary schools. He also provided important educational sessions to youth in the Jane and Finch community about their legal rights.