Culture Archives - Rubin Thomlinson

Carroll v. Trump: Lessons for investigations of historic claims of sexual abuse

May 15, 2023 | By Janice Rubin, | By Katharine Montpetit

We have had mandates to investigate allegations of sexual abuse that occurred many years ago. As we point out to clients who wish to retain us, beyond the complexities of every case of this kind, most notably that there is usually no direct evidence of the event having transpired, “historic” cases present unique challenges: Witnesses may no longer be available, documents may have been destroyed, and memories inevitably fade.

“Anti-woke” at school? The challenge for educational institutions in addressing EDI backlash

April 20, 2023 | By Elizabeth Bingham

Followers of U.S. politics may be paying attention to the ongoing efforts on the part of Florida’s governor to crack down on what he and other conservative politicians view as the “liberal bias” in universities and colleges.

The Role of Support Persons in Promoting Culturally Safe Workplace Investigations

February 28, 2023

In Canada, an individual subject to a legal process such as a hearing or trial can request an accommodation connected to a human rights-related ground such as a disability. One common accommodation request is for permission to be accompanied by a support person for assistance, as this allows for meaningful participation in the process.

Respect at Work Training – why now?

March 21, 2022 | By Christine Thomlinson

We’ve been hearing much talk about the “Great Resignation” – specifically, between April and September 2021, more than 24 million American employees left their jobs, an all-time record. While the same hasn’t yet been seen in Canada, experts speculate that this may just be delayed…

“Missing and Missed”: 5 takeaways for systemic reviews

June 1, 2021

We are often asked to determine whether systemic issues exist in workplaces, focussing on issues like sexual misconduct, harassment, racism, and alcohol and substance use. Unlike investigations, systemic reviews don’t examine isolated error or fault. Systemic reviews don’t uncover misconduct or wrongdoing of a particular person, or flag potential civil or criminal liability. Systemic reviews are different. Designed to identify issues involving an institution’s systems, policies, and practices, they can also scrutinize group behaviours, norms, and actions – in ways that an investigation or a court proceeding can’t.

The impact of “cancel culture” on workplace investigations

March 30, 2021 | By Tola Olupona

In our workplace investigation training sessions, we often talk about “the four pillars” of the investigation process — fairness, thoroughness, timeliness, and confidentiality — as the foundation of a solid investigation. Here, I briefly explain how “cancel culture” can impact fairness, thoroughness, and confidentiality.

Why Black people celebrate everything

February 18, 2021 | By Dana J. Campbell-Stevens

It can hardly be disputed that Black people celebrate just about everything, and we don’t just celebrate, we brand it – Black love, Black success, Black business, Black education, Black fatherhood, Black motherhood, Black girl magic, Black television, Black music, Black literature, Black everything. As you read this, you may be thinking, “Okay, we get it.” If that is your reaction, then perhaps you don’t. Perhaps you do not understand why we celebrate as we do.

Celebrate Black History Month like it is every day

February 16, 2021 | By Tola Olupona

Growing up in a predominantly white town, I was the only Black girl in my school. To add to that, my family and I were the only Black family in the town. To be completely frank with you, I barely saw any Black people other than myself and my family. I recall Black History Month never really being celebrated or even acknowledged in the schools I attended, and I did not see it in our history books. Lucky for me, I was exposed to the richness of Black culture and history at such a young age through books, television, and movies.

Serious insight for serious situations.