SERVICES

Training

Change behaviour. Shift norms.

training for workplace harm & high-stakes people issues

I provide practical workplace training for managers, leaders, HR, and teams on issues that affect trust, safety, performance, and legal risk.

My work is grounded in workplace harm expertise, with a particular focus on gender-based harm, including sexual harassment and domestic violence. I also support employers with related issues such as conflict, accommodation, reporting, investigations, and return-to-work transitions.

This is not off-the-shelf workplace training. I tailor each session to your workplace, your recurring issues, and the decisions people are actually struggling to make.

pratical, tailored, and built to be used

My sessions are grounded in adult learning principles and practical scenarios drawn from your workplace, not generic hypotheticals. I usually begin with an intake process to understand recurring problems, decision points, and where people are getting stuck.

Training is available as workshops, leadership sessions, manager training, webinars, and conference talks.

If you want a sense of my training style, check out this nationwide webinar I provided on domestic violence programming at work.

If you want workplace training that is legally informed, practical, and designed to improve how people respond in real time, get in touch.

Want to go deeper?

Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter on sexual harassment in male-dominated workplaces

Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter on sexual harassment in male-dominated workplaces, workplace culture, accountability, and responding to poisoned work environments.

training for managers, leaders & HR

I regularly provide training on:

  • sexual harassment prevention in male-dominated workplaces
  • trauma- and violence-informed management
  • responding to domestic violence disclosures in the workplace
  • preparing for workplace investigations and communicating about the process
  • post-investigation conversations and team stabilization
  • equitable hiring, promotion, accommodation, and parental leave decision-making
  • respectful workplace leadership and early conflict response

training for employees & teams

I also provide training for broader employee groups, including:

  • sexual harassment prevention and response
  • bystander intervention
  • respectful workplace expectations
  • reporting pathways and safer disclosure
  • workplace responses to conflict, harm, and accountability

Not every training format is right for every workplace. I help clients choose an approach that fits their workforce, their culture, and the problems they are actually trying to solve.

Rika is an incredibly smart and adaptive lawyer that excels in working with her clients to find creative solutions by using analytical approaches. Personally, it was a pleasure to work with Rika and I could not recommend her more highly!

BRANDON PARLETTE,

Senior counsel, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

It is always a pleasure and an honour to collaborate with Rika. Rika brings a wealth of knowledge to her training sessions, including up-to-date case law, employment legislation, gender-based harassment and violence, and workplace practices and realities. Rika is a dynamic facilitator, educator, and speaker that is always participant-focused, responsive, and highly effective. In her training sessions, Rika creates safe learning environments that are interactive, engaging, and grounded in adult learning principles. Rika has a unique way of making participants feel at ease with such difficult and complex issues, such as gender-based harassment and violence, and willing to open up to ask questions and share experiences.

Adriana Berlingieri, PhD

,

Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, Western University

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Rika Sawatsky of Clausework on a Black Femme Legal guide developed for Black queer, trans, and non-binary workers in Ontario. Rika was an absolute pleasure to work with—thoughtful, brilliant, and deeply grounded in a trauma-informed and intersectional approach to legal analysis. Her care for community and commitment to accessible, meaningful work truly shines through.

Samantha Peters

,

Founder & Director, Black Femme Legal

Mennonite New Life Centre's Staff and Clients learned much from the teachings and guidance offered and would recommend to anyone. Rika is friendly and knowledgeable. Really knows her business.

Dwayne O'Connor

,

Executive Director

Rika Sawatsky is smart and comes with impressive experience. At the same time, she is very respectful of the expertise of others. Rika is a natural collaborator and working with her helped me to see my own work from new perspectives. It’s the best kind of work experience.

Director

,

Research Centre

Rika learned and applied the complex industrial terms and working procedures of our North American company incredibly quickly, all the while managing tight litigation timelines and multiple points of contact within our organization. Her personable nature and ability to explain legal concepts in plain language made her a joy to work with.

Labour Relations Manager

,

Rail Industry

Rika is an excellent lawyer. She learns the complicated details of a case and finds creative solutions by building rapport with allied and opposing parties to come to a positive resolution for her clients.

Igor Gimelshtein

,

CEO, Echelon Wellness

Rika is an excellent lawyer who pays attention to detail, has terrific writing skills, and is a wonderful person to work with. I highly recommend her for labour and employment matters.

John Stout

,

Mediator/Arbitrator

I had the pleasure of working closely with Rika during her time with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, where she drafted legislation, and provided oral and written advice to clients and senior officials. Rika is an incredibly smart and adaptive lawyer that excels in working with her clients to find creative solutions by using analytical approaches. Personally, it was a pleasure to work with Rika and I could not recommend her more highly!

Brandon Parlette

,

Senior Counsel, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development

Rika provided our public sector organization with expert representation on a number of complex legal matters, which led to highly successful outcomes. She provides intelligent insightful counsel and she has an unparalleled work ethic. Rika is able to pull on her wealth of knowledge and legal expertise while quickly comprehending the nuances of issues that are essential to problem solving. Rika is results driven and articulate in communications. From a client perspective, Rika is highly responsive and she demonstrates true caring.

John Hodgkinson

,

Senior Manager, Employee & Labour Relations

Rika is a pleasure to work with! Her high level of organization and prompt communication is impressive, and her kindness proves she truly cares for her clients. I now feel confident about my client contract! Highly recommend!

Sara Froese

,

Founder, All Sorts Press

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