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Serious insight for serious situations.

Serious insight for serious situations.

Understanding sexual harassment in the restaurant industry

I recently wrote a blog discussing a case adjudicated by the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission, which involved allegations of sexual harassment at a small local restaurant and the cost consequences of that employer failing to have a sexual harassment policy in place.

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A very merry survival guide to managing year-end fatigue as workplace investigators

It’s that time of the year again. No, I am not talking about “chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” or the “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” feeling. I’m talking about the time of the year when many of us are trying to get into the holiday spirit while juggling work deadlines and demands,….

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Neurodivergent interviewees: Tips for conducting fair and thorough investigations

Investigators typically follow the same process in every investigation. We gather evidence, usually through interviews, we use that evidence to make factual findings, and we analyse those findings to determine whether a breach of policy has occurred.

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Milligan v. Maczak Holdings Ltd. – Sexual harassment, and the perils of a policy-less workplace

On September 29, 2023, the Human Rights Commission of Prince Edward Island (“PE HRC”) rendered its decision in the matter of Milligan v, Maczak Holdings Ltd. , a case involving sexual harassment of a restaurant worker at Smitty’s Family Restaurant (“Smitty’s”) in Charlottetown, PEI.

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Data and Investigation Series: Why is collecting investigation data important?

This is the first in a series of blog posts that I will be writing on data and investigations.

The ultimate goal of organizations is to get into what we at Rubin Thomlinson call “the zone” – the optimal workplace that is characterized by respect, civility, tolerance, inclusivity, and no, or few, employment-related legal problems.

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Can jokes amount to harassment if no one told the jokester to stop?

“How was I to know they were offended by my jokes? They never told me they were uncomfortable.”

Jokes between colleagues can be an important contributor to positive workplace culture. Unfortunately, some employees are subjected to jokes and teasing that is offensive or demeaning.

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Sex, lies, and celebrities: What employers can learn from the Russell Brand allegations

In recent weeks, allegations have been raised about actor/comedian Russell Brand regarding various instances of sexual assault, emotional abuse, and bullying from four anonymous women. As outlined below, this story provides several important takeaways for employers and investigators who deal with these issues.

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