Gratitude for 2025 and Peace and Prosperity in 2026!

As 2025 comes to a close, I'd like to thank our clients and partners for your trust to do the sensitive work of investigations and conflict resolution within your organizations and teams. Trusting us to get it right, in both the process and the findings, is something I and this organization will never take for granted.

Two goals for the last quarter of the year were to have monthly speaking engagements and no weeks without active casework. This latter goal may seem obvious or even easily attainable, but the nature of this work is that cases are often urgent to begin, then slow to start due to legitimate reasons - the Complainant or Respondent are on medical or other leaves; internal management and union consultation; approval of the investigator or mediator; availability of initial evidence/documents; even the preference to start a project after another vital process completes, such as a related arbitration or concluding a collective agreement. A full caseload for an investigator's week can quickly morph into unpredictable gaps in the day planner, and some firms slip into the trap of over-booking.

This makes the achievement of both goals for the quarter especially meaningful: we earned the trust of sectoral and professional associations and networks to share our knowledge and experiences, and the trust of employers to retain our services steadily each week in a workflow that is typically 'boom and bust'. Gratefulness seems almost too understated a word to express our appreciation for these partnerships.

2025 revealed some new and ongoing trends in workplace investigation and conflict resolution cases we worked on this year. The ongoing theme of managerial legitimacy remained prevalent this year. Perceptions of supervisory misconduct linked closely with perceptions of dismissiveness, gaslighting and undermining from subordinate staff Complainants. Senior level messaging about what to expect during a change of structure, leader, or even technology can make all the difference in attributing negative perceptions to a leader's conduct versus attribution to the change process itself or to differences in style and workplace culture.

Disability-linked cases remained a strong theme this past year, with many allegations of harassment and discrimination linked to claimed refusals/failures to accommodate disability. Questions as to whether the Respondent could reasonably have known a disability was present were key, as well as the reasonability of Respondents' conduct once an accommodation request was made.

A portion of this year's proceeds has been donated to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. This worthy organization provides canine support to people living with disabilities, including autism, mobility impairments, vision-impaired and those with seizures or diabetes. Dog Guides greatly improve the quality of life for those fortunate to be able to access one. My family is ending the in-home portion of pup Larry's training, and he is off to advanced training to become an Autism Support Dog.

On a personal note, 2025 was in some ways akin to a forest fire in an otherwise healthy wood - with searing losses including that of a parent. In the woods, fires leave an ashen burn scar, but new growth soon begins to emerge. Some new life, such as that of the lodgepole and jack pine, is promoted by the heat of the fire, allowing cones to open and seeds to disperse. Mom's absence at the Christmas dinner table was a bit like an unmistakable burn line in the woods, but the table was still full to overflowing, decked out with festive tablecloth and poppers, and we had to rely on all the old folding chairs in the basement to make room around the table. Loving hands set themselves to work on casseroles, apple pie and shortbread. Absence and abundance; loss and renewal; a tear blinked away, and joyful banter.

In the sentimental spirit of the end of old year and welcoming the new, Robert Burns classic New Years song, Auld Lang Syne, calls us to remember the old days and clasp hands again. It's about reconnection, forgiveness, and shared humanity - a fitting wish from a mediator and investigator. All of this from my family to yours, and from my meeting room (virtual or otherwise) to your boardrooms, staff rooms and shop floors:

But seas between us braid hae roar'd (Broad seas between us have roared)

Sin auld lang syne (Since old long since)

Life happened; distance, time and circumstances separated us

And here's a hand, my trusty friere, (And here's a hand, my trusted friend)

And gie's a hand o' thine (And give me a hand of yours)

Let's clasp hands again, old friend, (even if rough seas have kept us apart)

And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught, (And we'll take a proper swig together in goodwill)

For auld lang syne. (For old long since)

Let's cheers in goodwill, for old times' sake.

Peace and prosperity to you and yours in 2026,

Paul