PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Developing a workplace violence policy
Janet Naidu

Developing a workplace violence prevention strategy
Janet Naidu

Conducting a risk/hazard assessment
Glenn French

Training supervisors and employees on workplace violence and harassment
Janet Naidu

Auditing your violence and harassment prevention program and developing an incident follow-up procedure
Lisa Walsh

Violence in the workplace: Legal/regulatory requirements
Glenn French
Adrienne V. Campbell
Janet Naidu
Jeff Hopkins
Catherine Osborne

Janet Naidu is Manager of Diversity Management at the LCBO. For over 20 years, Ms. Naidu has been involved in Human Resources Management. Prior to her leadership role in promoting Workplace Diversity, she was involved in the developing and implementing of Corporate Compensation policies and Pay Equity requirement.

Ms. Naidu has taken on the challenge of promoting diversity at the LCBO for the past 10 years. She has been instrumental in the creation of the diversity agenda in the corporate strategies at the LCBO through the assessment of its employment systems review and equity provision to the delivery if the comprehensive educational initiative. While work towards an inclusive working environment, she produces their "Working in Diversity" video-based program, which has resulted in positive changes in the organization.

Ms. Naidu also oversees the LCBO's Human Rights Policy Program, including conducting investigations into allegations of harassment and discrimination as well as implementing educational programs.

For the past four years, Ms. Naidu has introduced a new initiative - the Workplace Diversity Calendar - to ensure that 'diversity' awareness is maintained. It showcased national holidays, religious observances, international dates as well as information and tips on workplace issues.

Ms. Naidu is a graduate of the University of Toronto in political Science and Caribbean Studies. She is a former President of the Toronto Employment Equity Practitioners' Association (now Diversity and Employment Equity Practitioners' Association)

Glenn French is the President and CEO of the Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violence, based in Toronto. Within the mental health field, Mr. French has held many senior administrative and clinical positions within both the private and public sectors. He has been retained by many of Canada's leading organizations interested in the wellbeing of their employees. The CIWV is a social research firm that studies trends in workplace conduct within Canada. In addition, they research and catalogue the practices that organizations and unions are employing to reduce the risk of workplace aggression. The Canadian Initiative is committed to the sharing of this information with others who are interested in arriving at a better understanding of violence from a Canadian perspective and what we can do to prevent it. This past year, the CIWV partnered with the Federal Government in planning for a North American conference on workplace violence. The CIWV has recently completed the first phase of a national survey on the evolving issue of workplace violence in Canada, the second phase to be completed by the end of 2006.

Adrienne Campbell is the National Manager, Associate Relations and Recognition, for Sears Canada Inc. With more than 15 years experience in providing both legal and practical advice to employers on employment and labour law matters, Adrienne has worked in private practice, as in-house counsel, and at a global human resource consulting firm.

As a member of the HR Senior Leadership Team, Adrienne's key responsibilities at Sears Canada include the design and support of corporate programs and policies around human rights issues (harassment and discrimination), workplace violence, privacy, progressive discipline, and ethics. She is also responsible for the corporate EAP program and the employee survey program. Her team also manages all employment and labour related litigation, and provides advice and support as required in responding to union organizing activities, collective bargaining issues, the impact of changes in employment and labour standards legislation, and the employment law and associate relations implications of corporate acquisitions and divestitures.

Lisa Walsh is the Director of Employee Relations at the TorontoTransit Commission. She manages the Workplace Conduct Investigation and Employee Relations sections of the Human Resources Department. Prior to joining the Commission, Lisa practised labour, employment and business immigration law at a Toronto law firm.

Dave Dinesen founded BackCheck in 1997. His former life had him as Sr. Vice President of the largest investigation company in BC. Realizing that background checks were the future, he founded BackCheck which has become the largest Canadian owned provider of such services. With account executives from coast to coast, BackCheck serves over a thousand of Canada's largest employers with its pre-employment screening services.

Mr. Dinesen speaks regularly on the topic of background checks at Universities, Conferences, and Media interviews and sits on the advisory board of the Langara College Criminology Advisory Committee. He is a member of HRMA and NAPBS. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and 2 children.

Jeff joined Grosman, Grosman & Gale immediately following his call to the Ontario Bar in July 2003. Jeff represents both employers and employees in all aspects of labour and employment law, with a particular emphasis on wrongful dismissal litigation as well as the drafting and negotiation of employment and consulting agreements. He offers proactive advice on employee discipline and general workplace issues.

Jeff graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. While in law school, Jeff represented Western at the national Gale Moot competition. Jeff graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto, Trinity College, specializing in International Relations.

Catherine Osborne joined the firm of Kuretzky Vassos as counsel in February after more than 20 years of practice. Catherine has a varied labour and employment law practice representing employers in the areas of grievance arbitrations, Labour Board hearings, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissal actions, human rights, and workers compensation. Her client base is varied ranging from mining and construction companies to employers in the manufacturing, insurance, public and non-profit sectors. She also has a regulatory defence practice, defending corporations charged under occupational health and safety, environmental and other regulatory statutes. She appears before a variety of tribunals and courts and has argued test cases in the field of occupational health and safety, workers compensation and human rights. Catherine is a former prosecutor with the Ontario government and a former adjudicator under the Police Services Act.

Preferred Areas of Practice
Labour law including arbitrations and collective bargaining
Human rights
Wrongful dismissal and other employment law
Employment standards matters including director liability
Regulatory defence work including occupational health and safety and environmental law

Background
Year of call to the Bar: 1984 (Ontario)
Osgoode Hall, LL.B., 1982
McGill University, Graduate Studies in Political Science
University of Toronto, B.A. (Hons.)

Other Professional Activities
Frequent speaker and author on labour and employment matters|
Has worked as an adjudicator under the Police Services Act