A Very Particular Set of Skills

Paul Nicholson
Aug 5
3 min read

Updated: Aug 11

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career...”

— Liam Neeson, Taken (2008)

At Fermata Workplace Solutions, there are no covert operations, no ransom demands, and thankfully, no car chases through the streets of Paris. But the work can still be complex, high-stakes, and require a cool head under pressure. Like Liam Neeson's character, workplace investigators and conflict resolution specialists also require the development of 'a very particular set of skills'.

At Fermata Workplace Solutions, our mission is to support organizations across Canada when they face difficult workplace conflict challenges. Whether you’re responding to a complaint, navigating a sensitive investigation, or trying to resolve team dysfunction, you deserve support that is neutral, thoughtful, and effective.

What are these “particular” skills?

Conducting impartial workplace investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, bullying, and misconduct
Facilitating respectful workplace assessments to uncover the root causes of conflict or dysfunction
Resolving disputes through skilled mediation and conflict resolution strategies
Coaching and supporting HR teams and leaders navigating difficult internal processes

What makes this approach different?

Fermata brings a unique combination of investigative discipline, strategic HR insight, and mediation know-how to the art (and science) of resolving complex workplace issues. Not all workplace investigators and facilitators are created equal, and not all approaches deliver outcomes you can act on.

Strategic HR perspective. Investigations don’t happen in a vacuum. They take place in live workplaces with leadership dynamics, operational pressures, and human complexity. Fermata approaches every file with a systems-level lens, balancing legal obligations with organizational realities.

Private investigator diligence. Interviews are thorough. Documentation is meticulous. Evidence is handled with the care and precision required for defensible findings.

Certified mediation insight. Sometimes conflict isn’t just about what happened, it’s about what happens next. Fermata brings practical experience in restoring communication, trust, and workplace function.

Fairness for all parties. Fairness means more than being nice. A compliant workplace investigation needs to consider the process (did the Respondent have time to consider the allegations?), respect unique circumstances (does one of the parties require a language interpreter?), and take the potential trauma of parties into account. Trauma-informed investigation isn’t about lowering standards or overcomplicating the process; it’s about recognizing how stress and past experiences can affect how people recall events, interact, and present evidence. Approaching interviews with awareness of these factors helps us gather more accurate, reliable information, while maintaining fairness to all parties, and avoid over-indexing on stereotypical cues of honestly and reliability.

Plain language. Practical outcomes. Reports need to serve multiple client needs: legal & policy compliance, dispute resolution insight, and employee relations corrective action. We work with law firms expecting to rely on our work in litigation, and with HR leaders expecting to rely on our work to guide decisions, rebuild trust, and move teams forward. Every report is written with clarity, fairness, and usability in mind.

Why "Fermata"?

In music, a fermata is a pause: a moment of intentional stillness that allows the piece to breathe before continuing. That’s what we offer - a pause in the rhythm of your organization to address what’s gone wrong and help you move forward with intention.