Moderator

Doug Sanderson

Arbitrator and Mediator
Doug Sanderson Dispute Resolution

Speakers

Dr. Katy Kamkar

Dr. Katy Kamkar, PhD, CPsych.
Clinical Psychologist

Diane Laranja

Employer Counsel
Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

Troy Winters

Senior Health and Safety Officer Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

September 10, 2024

It is now common knowledge that employers, unions and employees all benefit from a safe and healthy work environment that protects workers’ mental health. However, workplace parties continue to grapple with the best way to proactively guard against poor mental health in the workplace beyond simply reacting and responding to concerns once they arise. In this panel, experts will discuss tools and practices that employers and unions can use to maximize employees’ psychological health and safety.

Questions to be addressed include:

  • What is the difference between mental illness and mental health in a broader sense? Why is it important for workplaces to implement proactive measures that address both mental illness and mental health?
  • What are an employer’s legal obligations to protect workers’ psychological wellbeing under occupational health and safety legislation?
  • What are the key elements of a healthy work environment and how can employers effectively assess the health of their workplace?
  • What are best practices for proactively addressing mental health in the workplace and what are the respective roles of the employer and union in this regard?
  • What are the potential implications for employers should they fail in their obligation to provide a safe and healthy work environment?
  • Can unions be held liable for failing to protect the psychological health and safety of their membership?
  • What resources are available? How useful/reliable are they?

CPD

CPD Alberta
This program has been approved for Continuing Professional Development 1.5 hours under Category A of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Log of the Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA).
CPD BC and Yukon
This program has been approved by CPHR BC & Yukon for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
CPD Alberta
This program has been approved by CPHR Alberta for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.

CPD

  • This program has been approved by the Law Society of British Columbia for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
  • Members of the Law Society of Ontario may consider counting this program for 1.5 Substantive hours; 0 Professionalism hours.
  • Members of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society may count this program for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
  • Members of the Law Society of New Brunswick may consider this program for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.
Published On: September 10th, 2024