clausework for employers
®
inclusive workplace design,
training & investigations
I’m an employment lawyer who helps employers build workplaces that are fair, inclusive, and built to last.
Practical advice, clear guidance, and a genuine equity lens—without the jargon or judgment.
HOW I CAN HELP
Let's make your workplace better
Not just compliant, but equitable, safe, and built for people to thrive.
workplaces that work
for everyone
INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE DESIGN
Policies, programs, and audits that create lasting change
From parental leave and domestic violence frameworks to gender-inclusive policies and pay-equity strategies, I help organizations design systems that remove barriers and foster belonging.
I’m also licensed by the ILO to conduct Participatory Gender Audits alongside my collaborator, Josée Daris, an international equity practitioner with expertise in cross-cultural and Indigenous knowledges. Together, we combine legal insight with lived experience to create meaningful, lasting change.
TRAINING
Interactive learning that moves people, not just checkboxes
I go beyond boilerplate compliance to deliver training that resonates. Sessions are interactive, trauma and violence-informed, and grounded in adult learning principles—building real understanding of bias, privilege, and psychological safety.
Respectful dialogue is encouraged, and every participant leaves with tools to recognize harm and respond with confidence. Training is available in person or online.
INVESTIGATIONS
Trauma and violence-informed. Neutral. Equity-literate.
I conduct impartial, legally sound investigations informed by a deep understanding of how trauma, violence, identity, and systemic bias can shape behaviour and reporting.
The goal is simple: findings that are balanced, credible, and actionable—so workplaces can move forward with clarity, care, and confidence.
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MEET YOUR LEGAL PARTNER
Hi, I'm Rika Sawatsky (she/her), an employment lawyer, gender equity consultant, and founder of Clausework.
After a decade at a global law firm and Ontario’s Ministry of Labour—right where workplace laws are made—I started this practice to do law differently: clear, practical, and equity-informed.
My work blends legal depth with lived experience. As a biracial Japanese-Canadian feminist, I bring an intersectional lens and a trauma-informed approach to every file. My goal is to help employers turn good intentions into meaningful action—one policy, one training, and one conversation at a time.
