Active Curriculum

Compliance, Law &
Ethics

Strengthen workplace governance, ethics, and legal understanding.

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Syllabus Overview

Structured learning journey.

1
40 Mins

Canadian Workplace Law Fundamentals

Module 1 introduces the foundations of Canadian workplace law, including how federal and provincial jurisdictions divide legal authority, the role of the Employment Standards Act in setting minimum standards, and how statutory law, common law, and employment contracts work together to regulate employment relationships.

Key Terminology

1Jurisdiction: The legal authority that determines whether federal or provincial laws apply to a workplace or employment relationship.
2Federal Jurisdiction: Employment law governed by the federal government for industries such as banks, airlines, railways, and telecommunications.
3Provincial Jurisdiction: Employment law governed by individual provinces, applying to most workplaces in Canada, such as Ontario’s ESA.
4Employment Standards Act (ESA): Provincial legislation that sets minimum workplace standards such as wages, hours of work, vacation, and termination rules.
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2
41 Mins

Human Rights in the Workplace

Module 2 introduces human rights in Canadian workplaces, focusing on protected grounds under the Human Rights Code, prohibited discrimination and harassment, the duty to accommodate, and the formal complaint process used to resolve workplace human rights violations.

Key Terminology

1Protected Grounds: Personal characteristics protected under the Human Rights Code, such as race, gender, age, religion, disability, and family status, that cannot be used to discriminate in employment decisions.
2Human Rights Code: Provincial and federal legislation that protects individuals from discrimination and harassment in employment and ensures equal opportunity in the workplace.
3Discrimination: Unfair or unequal treatment of an individual based on a protected ground, which can be direct or indirect and is prohibited by law.
4Direct Discrimination: Overt and intentional unfair treatment of an employee based on a protected characteristic, such as refusing to hire someone due to their religion.
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3
42 Mins

Occupational Health & Safety

Module 3: Occupational Health & Safety introduces the laws and responsibilities that help keep workplaces safe in Canada. It covers OHSA regulations, worker and employer duties, workplace hazards, risk assessment, and the role of Joint Health and Safety Committees in preventing injuries and promoting safe work environments.

Key Terminology

1OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Act): Provincial legislation that sets out rules and requirements for workplace health and safety in Canada, aimed at preventing injuries and illness.
2Occupational Health and Safety: A legal framework focused on identifying, preventing, and controlling workplace hazards to ensure safe working conditions.
3Employer Responsibilities: Legal duties requiring employers to provide a safe workplace, proper training, safe equipment, and effective hazard controls.
4Supervisor Responsibilities: Duties requiring supervisors to enforce safety rules, monitor worker compliance, and address unsafe conditions or behaviour.
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4
44 Mins

Privacy Law & PIPEDA

Module 4: Privacy Law & PIPEDA introduces how personal information is protected in Canada and how organizations must follow rules for collecting, using, and storing data. It covers the key principles of PIPEDA, consent requirements, and data breach responsibilities, focusing on how workplaces ensure privacy, transparency, and legal compliance when handling personal information.

Key Terminology

1Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): Canada’s federal privacy law that regulates how private-sector organizations collect, use, disclose, and store personal information during commercial activities.
2Personal Information: Any information about an identifiable individual, including names, contact details, financial data, employment records, and digital identifiers.
3Fair Information Principles: A set of guidelines under PIPEDA that govern how organizations must responsibly manage personal data in a transparent and ethical way.
4Accountability: The principle that organizations are responsible for protecting personal information and must designate individuals to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
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5
45 Mins

Workplace Privacy Issues

Module 5: Workplace Privacy Issues explores how employers collect and monitor employee information in areas like surveillance, email use, background checks, and biometrics. It focuses on how these practices must follow PIPEDA rules while balancing workplace needs with employee privacy rights.

Key Terminology

1Employee Monitoring: The practice of tracking employee activities in the workplace, including computer usage, communications, and productivity, often for security, compliance, or performance reasons.
2Workplace Surveillance: The use of tools such as CCTV cameras, software tracking, or digital monitoring systems to observe employee behaviour and workplace activity.
3Email Monitoring: The review or tracking of employee email communications on company systems, usually for security, compliance, or policy enforcement purposes.
4Internet Use Policy: Workplace rules that define acceptable and unacceptable use of company internet systems, including restrictions and monitoring expectations.
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6
43 Mins

Anti-Harassment & Respectful Workplace

Module 6: Anti-Harassment & Respectful Workplace covers the basics of harassment, sexual harassment, workplace violence prevention, and how complaints are handled. It focuses on legal duties under laws like Bill 168 and the importance of creating a safe, respectful workplace.

Key Terminology

1Harassment: Unwelcome behaviour, comments, or actions that create a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment.
2Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including comments, gestures, advances, or behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
3Workplace Violence: The use or threat of physical force in a workplace that may cause harm, injury, or psychological trauma.
4Respectful Workplace: A work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, and harassment or violence is not tolerated.
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7
43 Mins

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Module 7: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) covers the basics of creating fair and inclusive workplaces, including diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, unconscious bias, inclusive hiring, and how organizations measure DEI progress.

Key Terminology

1Diversity: The presence of differences among people in the workplace, including race, gender, age, culture, background, and experience.
2Equity: Fair treatment in outcomes by recognizing different barriers and providing appropriate support to ensure equal opportunity.
3Inclusion: Creating a workplace environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and able to fully participate.
4DEI: A framework that stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, used to build fair and effective workplaces.
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8
43 Mins

Accessibility & AODA

Module 8: Accessibility & AODA covers the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), accessibility standards, workplace accommodations, customer service requirements, employment accessibility, and the design of accessible public spaces to support equal access and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Key Terminology

1Accessibility: The design of environments, services, and systems that allow people with disabilities to participate fully and independently.
2Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): Ontario legislation designed to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.
3Disability: A physical, mental, sensory, learning, developmental, or other condition that may affect a person's daily activities or participation.
4Barrier: Anything that prevents a person with a disability from accessing, participating in, or benefiting from services, employment, or public spaces.
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9
42 Mins

Labour Relations

Module 9: Labour Relations covers how unions and employers interact in the workplace, including collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration processes, and how unions are certified or decertified.

Key Terminology

1Labour Relations: The system governing relationships between employers, employees, and unions in the workplace.
2Union: An organized group of employees that represents workers in negotiations with employers.
3Collective Bargaining: The negotiation process between a union and employer to determine workplace terms and conditions.
4Collective Agreement: A legally binding contract that outlines wages, benefits, and working conditions agreed upon by a union and employer.
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10
44 Mins

Termination & Severance

Module 10: Termination & Severance covers the legal rules around ending employment, including just cause and without cause termination, notice and severance requirements, constructive dismissal, and wrongful dismissal claims, with a focus on fair and compliant supervisory decision-making.

Key Terminology

1Termination: The end of an employment relationship between an employer and an employee.
2Just Cause: A legally valid reason for immediate termination due to serious employee misconduct.
3Without Cause: Termination that occurs without employee wrongdoing, typically requiring notice or pay in lieu.
4Notice Period: The required amount of time an employer must provide before ending employment or the pay given instead.
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11
43 Mins

Workplace Investigations

Module 11: Workplace Investigations covers how workplace complaints are formally reviewed through structured investigations, including when they are required, how they are planned, interviewing methods, and how findings and recommendations are documented.

Key Terminology

1Workplace Investigation: A structured process used to gather facts and determine what happened in response to a workplace complaint or issue.
2Investigation Trigger: An event or complaint that initiates the need for an investigation, such as harassment allegations or policy violations.
3Scope: The defined boundaries of an investigation, including what issues, time periods, and individuals will be reviewed.
4Neutrality: The requirement that an investigation be conducted without bias or preconceived conclusions.
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12
44 Mins

Whistleblowing & Ethics

Module 12: Whistleblowing & Ethics covers how employees report wrongdoing, how organizations protect whistleblowers, and the systems used to support ethical behaviour, including ethics hotlines, conflict of interest rules, and codes of conduct.

Key Terminology

1Whistleblowing: The act of reporting misconduct, unethical behaviour, or illegal activity within or outside an organization.
2Whistleblower: An employee or individual who reports wrongdoing in good faith.
3Whistleblower Protection: Legal safeguards that prevent retaliation against individuals who report concerns.
4Retaliation: Any negative action taken against an employee for reporting wrongdoing, such as demotion, harassment, or termination.
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13
42 Mins

Environmental Compliance

Module 13: Environmental Compliance covers the key rules and practices organizations use to reduce environmental impact, including waste management, spill response, environmental regulations, and compliance audits.

Key Terminology

1Environmental Compliance: Following environmental laws, regulations, and standards that govern how organizations impact the environment.
2Waste Management: The process of handling, storing, transporting, and disposing of waste materials safely and legally.
3Hazardous Waste: Materials that are dangerous to human health or the environment, such as chemicals, oils, or batteries, requiring special handling and disposal.
4Waste Reporting: The documentation and tracking of waste generation and disposal to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
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14
43 Mins

Anti-Corruption & Fraud Prevention

Module 14: Anti-Corruption & Fraud Prevention covers key laws, policies, and internal systems used to prevent bribery, corruption, and financial fraud, including CFPOA, internal controls, and audits.

Key Terminology

1Corruption: The misuse of power or authority for personal gain, often involving unethical or illegal behaviour.
2Bribery: Offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value to influence a decision improperly.
3CFPOA (Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act): A Canadian law that prohibits bribing foreign public officials in international business.
4Foreign Public Official: An individual who holds a government or public position in another country.
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15
45 Mins

Compliance Program Development

Module 15: Compliance Program Development covers how organizations build and maintain compliance systems through risk assessment, policies, training, and ongoing monitoring to ensure legal and ethical operations.

Key Terminology

1Risk Assessment: The process of identifying and evaluating potential risks that could impact an organization’s compliance, operations, or reputation.
2Gap Analysis: Comparing current practices to required standards to identify areas where compliance is missing or insufficient.
3Compliance Program: A structured system of policies, procedures, and controls designed to ensure legal and ethical behaviour.
4Policy Development: The creation of formal rules and guidelines that define expected behaviour and procedures within an organization.
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Professional Certification

Complete 15 modules to unlock your verified certificate.