Carly Dunster
Partner
Turnpenney Milne LLP
Carly Dunster is a Partner and Workplace Investigator at Turnpenney Milne LLP, a boutique labour and employment firm in downtown Toronto. In her role at TMLLP, Carly leads the investigation practice group, which includes acting as a key client contact for many of the firm’s clients, developing and implementing training programs for all new lawyers at the firm on how to conduct investigations, and maintaining a full investigations practice. Prior to joining the firm, Carly articled at a prominent labour and employment firm in downtown Toronto, and subsequently worked in management and director positions in the non-profit sector. Her experience advising organizations on policy development and implementation, as well as facilitating effective training programs for employees and employers, lends depth and breadth to her investigation practice. Carly is a Certificate-Holder with the Association of Workplace Investigators (“AWI”) and has acted as both part-time and full-time Faculty at AWI’s Training Institute for Workplace Investigators, a 5-day certificate course that takes place at different locations throughout North America. Carly was also a member of an AWI Task Force charged with developing a course for advanced investigators. As a Trainer and Facilitator, Carly regularly conducts training sessions on both the creation and maintenance of respectful workplaces, and on how to conduct thorough and effective workplace investigations.
Carly has conducted workplace investigations in large and small, private and public-sector workplaces, some of which have involved high-profile matters that necessitated timely and sensitive investigations. Carly is adept at working within both unionized and non-unionized work environments and is familiar with the specific dynamics that come into play when engaging with individuals in a unionized workforce. She has extensive experience in addressing complaints under Ontario’s Human Rights Code of harassment and discrimination (including systemic/adverse impact discrimination), as well as non- Human Rights Code related bullying and personal harassment (under the Occupational Health and Safety Act or an employer’s policies). She has also conducted numerous investigations involving allegations of general misconduct contrary to an Employer’s policies or Codes of Conduct, including allegations of fraud, as well as the creation of a poisoned work environment. Carly has conducted a number of environmental audits (or workplace assessments), targeted either to specific departments or organization-wide, providing employers with information that helps them to proactively and preventative identify underlying issues in their workplace. Clients appreciate her ability to respectfully navigate the workplace environment and to conduct thorough, thoughtful investigations with an eye to facilitating resolutions and ultimately making the workplace a healthier one.