Day One: Tuesday, March 29, 2022
10:30 EDT
15 minWelcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
Diane Rudakenga, Business Relations Manager, Team Lead, Department of National Defense
10:45 EDT
60 minReturn to Site & COVID-19: Considerations for Employers
- Examine legal obligations to accommodate employees when returning to physical workplaces
- Discuss when “work from home” accommodations may be required
- Assess alternative to “work from home” accommodations
- Consider the implications of mandatory vaccination policies on return to site requirements
- Explore practical strategies for a successful return to site
11:45 EDT
60 minUnderstanding Neurodiversity and Intersectionality When Managing Your Duty to Accommodate
Diane Rudakenga, Business Relations Manager, Team Lead, Department of National Defense
- What is neurodiversity?
- What is intersectionality ?
- Deconstructing the myths surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace
- The relation between disability, mental health, social justice and its impact in the workplace culture
- The importance of using an intersectional lenses when addressing accommodation and workplace wellness
12:45 EDT
45 minBreak
13:30 EDT
60 minWorkplace Violence: Accommodation or Discipline
Glenn French, President & CEO, The Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violence
- The evolving definition of workplace violence
- The relationship between mental health and workplace violence
- Investigating potential threats
- The importance of employee “Perceived Personal Control”
- Determining when a comprehensive threat assessment is required
- Accommodating employees who have threatened violence
14:30 EDT
60 minLeadership Throughout the Accommodation Process
- How a robust reasonable accommodation process can spark employee engagement
- Mitigate risk and support an inclusive workplace
- Understanding the importance of empathy in the accommodation process
- How leadership in accommodation can impact work culture
15:30 EDT
60 minMediating and Adjudicating Accommodation Disputes: A Panel Discussion
Moderator: Barry B. Fisher, Arbitrator and Mediator, Barry Fisher Arbitration and Mediation
- The difference between unionized and non unionized resolutions
- How to prepare for an accommodation mediation
- The best way to present your side at a mediation
- Possible remedies to an accommodation case
- Litigating the case
16:30 EDT
Closing Remarks from the Chair
Diane Rudakenga, Business Relations Manager, Team Lead, Department of National Defense
Day Two: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
10:30 EDT
minWelcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
Diane Rudakenga, Business Relations Manager, Team Lead, Department of National Defense
10:30 EDT
60 minHow to achieve measurable results on Equity, Anti-Racism and Inclusion in a Federal Institution
- Context. How did we get here? Why the need for an anti-racist, anti-Oppression approach to EDI work
- Discuss the challenges in moving forward towards and equitable and representative workforce: Racism, Culture, Fear, Leadership (or lack thereof)
- Consequences of not getting this right. Consequences of not being able to name the issue.
- The tools needed for change: the Department of Justice Canada’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Results Framework: Representation, Career Development, Training and Culture Change, Measurement and Accountability.
- The Call to Action: How we can all contribute to an anti-racism, equitable and inclusive organization.
11:30 EDT
60 minKey Implications for Accommodating Remote Workers
- Why remote work is here to stay
- Remote work as a form of accommodation
- Best practices for transitioning to remote work long term: elements of a comprehensive remote work policy
12:30 EDT
45 minBreak
13:15 EDT
60 minMeeting Duty Obligations: How to Strategize and Problem Solve
Seema Lamba, Human Rights Officer, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Rawan El-Komos, Senior Director General, Corporate Services, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
- Create a culture of accessibility versus accommodation
- The right team: roles of employee, manager, bargaining agents and others
- Collaborative approach to accommodation
14:15 EDT
60 minDuty to Accommodate in the Workplace
Bryony Halpin’s presentation will provide an overview of Ontario’s Human Rights Code (Code) and the duty to accommodate in the workplace.
- The Code recognizes the dignity and worth of every person in Ontario and provides for equal rights and opportunities, and freedom from discrimination. It applies to the areas of employment, housing, facilities and services (including education, health care, etc.), contracts, and membership in unions, trade or professional associations. It covers specific grounds, such as disability, creed, family status, sex, and gender identity among others.
- Under the Code, employers have a legal duty to accommodate the Code-related needs of people who are adversely affected by a requirement, rule or standard.
- Accommodation means making adjustments to policies, rules, requirements and/or the built environment to ensure that people with Code-related needs have equal opportunities, access and benefits. Accommodation is necessary to address barriers in society that would otherwise prevent people from fully taking part in, and contributing to, the community.
- Accommodation is a shared responsibility. Everyone involved, including the person asking for accommodation, should cooperate in the process, share relevant information, and jointly explore accommodation solutions.
15:15 EDT
Closing Remarks from the Chair
Diane Rudakenga, Business Relations Manager, Team Lead, Department of National Defense