This course sheds light on why it is vital to understand and apply equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) best practices when responding to conflict in today’s workplace.
With the introduction of Bill C-65, and other developments in labour law and occupational health and safety law across Canada, it is increasingly important for workplaces to understand the landscape of EDI. Harassment and violence are disproportionately experienced by marginalized individuals and communities and these behaviours are often rooted in discriminatory beliefs and exacerbated by systemic inequities. It is therefore critical that conflict resolution practices and investigations themselves do not do further harm. One way to reduce harm is to understand and apply EDI best practices.
Over the course of the day you will:
– examine the significance of individual and systemic bias in the workplace and in conflict resolution;
– develop an understanding of systemic discrimination and its impacts;
– discuss intersectionality as a framework for understanding systems of power and their impact on different identity groups;
– learn how to recognize and use language that is inclusive;
– understand why you should be thinking about safety and what to consider when developing safety protocols; and
– work through case examples that provide you with an opportunity to discuss and apply EDI best practices through all stages of a conflict resolution process, including investigations.
By the end of the class, you will understand core EDI concepts and terminology. You will also come away with a better understanding of lived experiences and be able to recognize and apply EDI best practices.
Trainers
Michelle Bird
Michelle is a lawyer, workplace investigator, trainer and workplace consultant. She began her career at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, where she articled in the Tribunal Counsel Office. She spent eight years as an investigator and counsel for the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman, and several years at a Toronto-based firm specializing in workplace investigations, before starting her own practice. Michelle’s current practice focuses on workplace investigations, assessments, and conducting training sessions on mitigating bias, workplace civility, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) best practices. She is currently completing her master’s degree in counselling psychology and hopes to incorporate counselling techniques to address workplace stress and burnout into her practice. Michelle has written several articles focused on workplace investigations and eliminating the detrimental effects of bias during the investigation process.