The Harassment Free Workplace Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Join us as we dive into another subject that takes bravery to tackle head-on. Meet Flora Vineberg who is a lawyer specializing in sexual assault and harassment. She has dedicated her life to advocating an end to gender-based violence. Learn what you need to know to help make your organization less likely to experience gender-based violence. 

Flora is a formidable advocate specializing in labour and employment law, with a specific focus on sexual assault, harassment, human rights litigation, and workplace investigations. Employing a client-centred and trauma-informed approach, Flora's background in both criminal and civil law enables her to represent clients from all walks of life with compassion, tenacity, and focus. In turn, she uses these skills to provide informed and thoughtful legal advice, while incorporating strategic or creative solutions to myriad workplace and human rights-based issues. Flora recognizes the value of a healthy and productive workforce and works alongside both employees and employers to achieve positive, sustainable legal outcomes predicated on trust and professionalism.

With a focus on gender-based violence, Flora has worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, received training in The Hague to conduct international criminal investigations, and is currently also an Investigator with the province’s Special Investigations Unit. Flora has volunteered for and participated in myriad forms of community-based advocacy including the Toronto Police Services Sexual Assault Advisory Committee, and the Missing and Missed Implementation Task Force as part of the LGBTQ community. Flora regularly writes and speaks publicly regarding all aspects of sexual assault, centering a feminist approach to legal advocacy and an enduring commitment to building client trust.

Outside the office Flora loves the outdoors, playing ice hockey, spending time with any/all animals including her rescue dog, playing music, and sharing meals with loved ones.

To get in touch with Flora or April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

Listen in as I talk with Erin Alexanders as we discuss what employers can learn from a complainant's point of view. Erin was sexually harassed in the workplace and the investigation and processes were not dealt with effectively. What can we learn from her point of view? How do we make sure that those who have experienced harassment in the workplace are supported, heard, and treated with respect and dignity?

A brief synopsis of Erin's story

"I have been a part of the trucking industry since 2015. I have witnessed and been a part of the female growth which brings a unique perspective to an industry that has been heavily dominated by male workers.

In June 2020 my employer in the federal public service terminated me during their investigation process (terminating employees during an investigation is a violation of their harassment-free policy) after reporting sexual harassment and an assault at work in the spring of 2020 among three separate coworkers. Not only did the events that transpired change the trajectory of my life, but the mistreatment I faced by both my employer and union amplified the trauma of what should have been a supportive process. Instead, I am learning that victimization and gaslighting in workplaces is not an isolated issue; there are systemic fractures across many employers that first allow misconduct in the workplace, and second, post-incident internal processes that leave complainants feeling alienated and with limited trauma-informed resources to handle workplace harassment. I hired my own legal counsel (after months of rejections due to being unionized) while navigating a corrupt system that employees are told is actually designed to guide and provide empathy to complainants.

Two years later, and after multiple substantiated complaints, there have been no reported corrective measures imposed in the workplace I was harassed and assaulted in. Ultimately, no closure. After being terminated, it took me 21 months to return to the trucking industry due to psychological trauma and being forced to self-navigate the complaint system and being terminated in the process. Since

For several months after my losing my employment, I suffered mentally by blaming a federal, unionized system that appeared to strive to silence complainants. Today, I prioritize owning my adversity—finding meaning in what I can control. The circumstances I have faced empower me to stand with survivors of workplace trauma and to educate employers on what it can look like when they are not impartial, supportive or trauma-informed. Some decisions I have had to make are risks that complainants should never have to make.

My advocacy is formed around promoting compassion in workplaces that spans beyond policies, legislation and collective agreements. I work to help employers understand that there is no shame in embracing the power of employees who find the courage to use their voices for safer, more inclusive workplaces; to confront workplace misconduct and systemic malpractice rather than ignoring complaints or failing to seek appropriate resources to handle workplace matters."

To find Erin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmalexanders/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NavgtHarassment 

Website: https://navigateharassment.ca/

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

Come and join the tough conversation of microaggressions and racism in the workplace and learn how to address microaggressions in a way that works. 

Rhonda “Rikki” Smith is the founder and Chief Training Officer of Stratus Training and Consulting, LLC; a training management company providing soft skills training for managers, teams, and associates. Rikki is passionate about training and the ability that practical training has to build confidence increase productivity and ultimately affect the bottom line.

Rikki has worked in various positions in Homeland Security, the hospitality industry, Home health care, and Health care insurance. She is a Military Veteran having served in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist. Rikki holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and is an avid volunteer in her community.

Rikki is an inspirational, motivational speaker, and author with an emphasis on transformational living. Her weekly YouTube channel, Faith on Friday, is a source of encouragement, humor, and challenge to those who see it.

Rikki enjoys reading, working out, and playing golf. She has been married 22 years to a retired Army Veteran, she is mother to four adult children and grandmother to two grandsons.

How to find Rikki Smith:

www.stratustrains.com

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

As an employer do you know what your responsibilities are for protecting your employees who may be involved with domestic violence? Listen to this episode to learn more from Ruthann about Domestic Violence in the workplace. 

Ruthann Weeks is a Cultural Change Strategist and Principal Consultant at Harmony In The Workplace. She is a change agent whose efforts have helped to bring the importance of an abuse-free work environment to the forefront of public awareness. She is a best-selling author and gifted speaker who delivers a powerful message about today’s workplace challenges. Working as a Certified Resource Specialist in the human service sector, Ruthann went on to graduate as a Human Resource Manager. She is a Certified Psychological Safety Advisor and specializes in diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and mental health in the workplace.

Ruthann Weeks, CRS, Cultural Change Strategist

rweeks@harmonytraining.ca

780-460-1019

https://www.harmonyintheworkplace.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthann-weeks-harmonyintheworkplace/

https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyInTheWorkplace/

https://twitter.com/toxicprevention

https://www.instagram.com/harmony___official/?hl=en

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

Tim ranks as a global authority in the fields of senior executive development, strategy acceleration, and organizational change. He is the author of five books and has written more than 150 articles on leadership, change, strategy, human capital, culture, and employee engagement in publications such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Copany. He is a highly sought-after advisor, coach, and facilitator to CEOs and senior leadership teams. He has worked with leading organizations around the world.

Tim’s leadership experience is extensive. He was previously President and CEO of Decker, a consulting firm based in San Francisco, and CEO of Novations SDC, a consulting and training firm based in Boston. Prior to these assignments, Dr. Clark spent several years in manufacturing, serving as a vice president of operations and plant manager of Geneva Steel Company. He began his career as a survey research project director for what is now Harris Interactive in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Clark earned a doctorate degree in Social Science from Oxford University and was both a Fulbright and British Research Scholar. He also earned a master’s degree in Government and Economics from the University of Utah. As an undergraduate at Brigham Young University, he was named a first-team Academic All-American football player where he completed a triple degree cum laude.

Where to find Tim:

Website: leaderfactor.com

Twitter: @Timothy R. Clark  

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyrclark/

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety™ Behavioral Guide - A Free guide

https://www.leaderfactor.com/the-4-stages-behavioral-guide

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca 

april@niassociates.ca 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

How are you as a leader in your organization addressing conflict when it arises? Is your culture one that buries its head in the sand? Or do you combat conflict with more conflict? Listen in to learn simple steps to create healthy, sustainable ways to address conflict in your workplace. 

Chantara Leistner is the Owner of Cloudburst Consulting Services. Cloudburst provides support to individuals, families, and businesses faced with conflict by helping to develop long-lasting conflict solutions. After graduating from Brock University with her Honours B.A., Chantara went on to obtain her Honours Post Graduate Certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation) from Humber College. After extensive work in the social service sector Chantara decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship in 2019. Chantara combines her unique skillset/experience in mediation, negotiation, conflict coaching, and restorative justice with an intense passion, to deliver creative conflict resolution content and strategies.

Where you can find Chantara:
Cloudburst Consulting Services
cloudburstconsultingservices@gmail.com
www.cloudburstconsultingservices.com
Instagram: @cloudburstconsulting
Facebook: @cloudburstconsulting
Phone: (289) 407-7590

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca
april@niassociates.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

How to recognize and address trauma in the workplace. 

Join Katharine and I as we discuss how trauma affects the workplace and how to address it.  We also discuss her new book The Empathetic Workplace which discusses concrete ways to address trauma through empathy.  Lots of great practical tips in this episode. 

Katharine Manning is the President of Blackbird, which provides training and consultation on issues of trauma and victimization, and the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job. As a Senior Attorney Advisor with the Justice Department, for 15 years Katharine guided the Department through its response to victims in cases like the Boston Marathon bombing, Bernie Madoff, and the violence in Charlottesville. She has been an advocate, counselor, and legal advisor for victims for more than twenty-five years.

How to find Katharine:

Author website: www.katharinemanning.com
Business website: www.blackbird-dc.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpatheticWorkplace/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kl_manning
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empatheticworkplace/

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

Kellie Gray - Employment Lawyer

In this episode, we get back to some of the basics. Do you know how to recognize harassment complaints in the workplace? Do your managers? What is reprisal and how do we avoid it? Please listen in to our conversation with Kellie as she discusses some of the pitfalls that she has seen in her practice when it comes to complaints of harassment or discrimination.  

How to find Kellie Gray - 

Email: gray@omh.ca

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

Join Anne and me as we discuss the importance of building connections with your employees to improve engagement, ensure customer loyalty and drive business results. How are you connecting with your team in this world of remote work? How can staying connected with your team help decrease harassment? Welcome Anne to our podcast.

How to find Anne Cesak-

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annecesak/

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/

In this episode we meet Jorge Lasso who was the first race relations officer in his police service in 1987.  He has a wealth of information not only in navigating race relations but he has been performing many workplace investigations since his retirement as a police officer since 2012. 

How to find Jorge:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorge-lasso-1525b520/

How to find April Terreau - Workplace Investigations and Assessments or to be a guest on this podcast:

www.niassociates.ca

april@niassociates.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilterreau/