Conflict in the workplace arises when employees, through an assessment of the organization’s procedures, systems and outcomes, determine their treatment to be unjust or unfair. Unions mitigate conflict through the acquisition of monopoly power. read more>>

Author:  Zenab Pathan ( B.A.Hons in Employment Relations, MIRHR Candidate) has over a decade’s experience in HR at the U of Toronto and Ryerson U. including organizational design, job evaluation, recruitment, training & development, performance management, sick leave and accommodation, attendance management, grievances, investigations and employee conflicts for unionized and non-unionized employees.

Bruce Curran addresses a nagging question for labour relations professionals: “How fair is the union grievance procedure?”  Using the Donais Fairness Theory as a model, Mr. Curran considers how “Just, Efficient, Engaging and Resource Sufficient” your grievance procedures are. read more>>

Author: Bruce Curran [LL.B., M.I.R., LL.M.] is a PhD student at the UofT Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, focusing on dispute resolution and conflict management. Prior to starting his PhD, Bruce earned a law degree from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Industrial Relations (UofT) and a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. Bruce has also worked as a lawyer at Lerners, a law firm, and Towers Perrin, a Human Resources Consulting Firm, focusing on employment law.

Lindsay Foley’s exhaustive paper on the role, history and effectiveness of interest based negotiation presents empirical evidence and several case studies (Kaiser Permanente and Chevron Salt Lake City negotiations) and is essential reading  for practitioners. read more>>

Author: Lindsay Foley [B.A. (Hons.), MIRHR, WFA] is an Industrial Relations Officer at the Canada Industrial Relations Board who works with employers, unions and employees on industrial relations issues in the federal sector. She has a masters degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Toronto, and a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Labour Studies from Brock University.

A healthy body outperforms an unhealthy one in any competition. Here, Donais draws an analogy between body and workplace providing solutions for improving workplace outcomes. read more>>

Author: Blaine Donais, President and Founder of WFI, is a labour lawyer and expert in conflict management in the workplace.

With satisfaction rates between 80-90%, why is mediation not sticking?  This article explores the North American success rates of mediation, compares mediation to arbitration and then asks, “Why aren’t unionized workplaces relying more on such a successful approach to workplace conflict?” read more>>

You have heard every trick in the book.  Donal O’Reardon pulls apart bargaining tactics using devices in sound critical thinking, a skill that he argues is fundamental to sound bargaining.  He outlines bargaining fallacies and approaches which will improve your bargaining abilities and strengthen your successes. read more>>

Author: Donal O’Reardon [M.A., M.Litt., H.DipEd., O.C.T., ADR Cert.]  is founder of O’Reardon Consulting and author of “I Think Therefore: Critical Thinking for Beginners” (Emond Montgomery, Dec. 2011). O’Reardon Consulting delivers corporate training and educational consulting in the area of thinking skills focusing on how they can positively impact productivity and can be used to manage conflict. He has served on the bargaining committee of CUPE 3904. www.oreardonconsulting.com

COMPLETE GUIDE TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE WORKPLACE   
by Marrick F. Masters and Robert R. Albright.
(New York. AMACOM, 2002) 343 pages.

Belcastro finds this ‘complete guide to conflict resolution’ significantly incomplete and lacking in key areas of competency.  Among other deficits, the book fails to describe the consequences of union avoidance practices for fair conflict resolution.  Belcastro fills in the gap with an in-depth description of the advantages of including participation of all workplace actors.   read more>>

Reviewed by :  Rosetta Belcastro [B.Sc. (Hons), H.R.M. (Hons), M.I.R.H.R., WFA.]
Rosetta  has worked at the Hospital for Sick Children for 18 years and has over 10 years in the health sciences industry in a managerial/supervisory capacity. She is a seasoned author with over 25 peer reviewed publications in the field.

The tragic murder of Ontario nurse, Lori Dupont, at the hands of her estranged boyfriend and co-worker has led to Bill 168 which entrenches landmark workplace conduct regulations into the province's Health and Safety Act.

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Author:  Rosalie Bellefontaine, Managing Editor.

Non-unionized workplaces must take the lead in responding to the new regulations outlined in Ontario's 2010 anti-harassment legislation under Bill 168, with striking new obligations and responsibilities for employers to protect their employees at work.

Author: Cédric P. Lamarche [B.Soc.Sc., LL.B.] is a bilingual employment lawyer at Whitten & Lublin LLP, advising both employers and employees regarding all their workplace legal needs. www.canadaemploymentlawyer.com

read more>>

Unions play a key role in their workplaces and are uniquely poised to assist in the implementation of the Bill 168 amendments to the Ontario Health and Safety Act. Donais explains why. read more>>

Author: Blaine Donais [B.A., LL.B., LL.M. (ADR), RPDR, C.Med., WFA.], President and Founder of WFI, is an expert in conflict management in the workplace.   www.workplacefairness.ca

This bold new legislation poses many interpretive and administration challenges especially for the culturally diverse small business owners in the Province of Ontario.

read more>>

Co-Author: Bruce I.L. Ally [Ph.D., LL.M., DRE (York U), WFA], a principal at A Place for Mediation, is a senior mediator/arbitrator having mediated in excess of three thousand matters, and is an ADR educator at York University. www.aplaceformediation.ca read more>>

Co-Author: Sabrina Crucini [B.A. Psych, WFA] is interning at A Place for Mediation specializing in workplace and employment mediations. She did a post-graduate Human Resources Certificate at Seneca College and her ADR Certificate at Humber College. www.aplaceformediation.ca  read more>>

This in depth analysis on workplace bullying takes a close look at the legislative history and the psychological impact of workplace bullying using case law from significant Canadian provincial examples.
read more>>

Author:  David Chalmers  [B.Ed., M.Ed., MIRHR, O.C.T., Ph. D. (Candidate),   LL.M. (Candidate), WFA]
is a partner at the Aberfoyle Centre, a leadership and organizational development firm.
read more>>

www.aberfoyleconsulting.com

Donais expands upon his Heads-Down Theory which outlines the nuances of workplace responses to unfairness and explains the cost that companies pay for their weak conflict management systems.
read more>>

Author:  Blaine Donais [B.A., LL.B., LL.M. (ADR), RPDR, C.Med., WFA.], President and Founder of WFI, is an expert in conflict management in the workplace.   www.workplacefairness.ca

Humiliation and bullying will no longer go unchecked under Ontario's Bill 168 which calls into question age-old power tactics practiced in our private and public lives. Dyer gives practical responses to humiliation in this insightful study.
read more>>

Author:  Alexia Dyer  [B.A., M.A., WFA.]
Alexia Dyer is Manager of Education and Training at Canadian Race Relations Foundation. She designs and delivers equity and anti-racism training programs to school boards, governmental agencies and the public and private sectors. Alexia has a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution with a focus on transformative mediation.
read more>>

THE CONFLICT SURVIVAL KIT: TOOLS FOR RESOLVING CONFLICT AT WORK   
by CLIFF GOODWIN, DANIEL B. GRIFFITH

This instructional book is designed as a classroom text and guide for those without formal training in conflict management and require “immediate” skill building and practical methods for dealing with organizational and personal conflicts. read more>>

Reviewed by :  Rosetta Belcastro [B.Sc. (Hons), H.R.M. (Hons), M.I.R.H.R., WFA.]
Rosetta  has worked at the Hospital for Sick Children for 18 years and has over 10 years in the health sciences industry in a managerial/supervisory capacity. She is a seasoned author with over 25 peer reviewed publications in the field.
read more>>

STOP HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE AT WORK:   
A HANDBOOK TO BILL 168 by ELAINE NEWMAN

Elaine Newman’s new book gives comprehensive and practical advice to employers and employees navigating Ontario’s radical new
anti-bullying legislation, Bill 168.  Donais previews this timely and insightful tool. read more>>

by Blaine Donais, www.workplacefairness.ca

The wfiJOURNAL welcomes your submissions.  Contact us with your ideas: wfijournal[at]workplacefairness.ca. 

In subsequent editions, WFI will be addressing these issues: 

• Cutting Edge ADR Practices in the Workplace
• Evaluating Conflict Management Systems
• The Role of Unions in Workplace Fairness and Workplace Conflict Management
• Considering the Ombuds Function in Workplace Conflict Management