What Workplace Fairness International does

Workplace Fairness International (WFI) is a Toronto-based, privately held professional services firm founded by labour lawyer Blaine Donais that delivers workplace conflict management, fairness assessment, and psychological health and safety solutions primarily to Canadian federal and municipal government departments, unionized workplaces, and educational institutions. The company operates from a head office at 18 King St. East in Toronto with a regional office in Calgary, and lists a very small core team of one to ten employees supplemented by a network of credentialed consultants, mediators, and trainers. The firm self-describes as an international provider and maintains a Latin America directorate, but the disclosed customer base and operating geographies are overwhelmingly Canadian.

WFI's offering is anchored on its proprietary Fairness Formula methodology and a suite of diagnostic instruments: the Testing Instrument for Fairness Systems (TIFFS), the Fairness Cost Analysis Tool (FCAT), the 21 Fairness Measures framework, and the Five-Phase Workplace Restoration Model. These are delivered through four revenue streams: enterprise consulting and assessment services (including Bill C-65 and Bill 30 compliance work), professional training seminars and certificate programs (Managing Unionized Employees, Workplace Conflict Management, Respectful Workplace), managed Ombuds services and a virtual helpline, and content revenue from four books distributed through Thomson Reuters and a direct e-commerce store. Certification revenue is augmented through ADRIO accreditation, which grants eight CEE points per session, and the Workplace Fairness Analyst (WFA) designation is offered as a credentialed pathway for practitioners.

The business model combines professional services (custom consulting, in-person and online training, managed ombuds) with a modest recurring layer (certification cohorts offered multiple times per year, virtual helpline) and a small transactional content business. Pricing is program-based: managing-unionized seminars run $3,000–$4,500+HST per day, multi-day certification programs run $1,000–$2,450 plus tax, with a $200+HST WFA designation fee, while books range from $20 to $99. Customer logos are dominated by Canadian federal entities (Senate of Canada, Health Canada, Public Health Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, CIRNAC, Parliamentary Protection Services, CRA, FINTRAC, DND/RCMP) and a roster of municipalities and universities, which produces meaningful customer concentration risk against the small internal headcount.

Name

Workplace Fairness International

Legal name

Workplace Fairness International

Website

https://workplacefairness.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Workplace Fairness International is a Toronto-based, privately held consulting firm that delivers workplace conflict management, fairness assessments, and Bill C-65 compliance training to Canadian federal and municipal governments, unionized employers, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workplace Conflict Management Consulting and Training

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Occupational Health & Industrial Hygiene (BPAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Compliance & Employment Law Risk Management (Local Labor Law, Tax, Statutory) (BPACAHAH), Workplace Misconduct, Ethics & Compliance Investigations (BPAKAEAH)

Keywords

• Workplace conflict management
• Psychological health safety
• Workplace restoration
• Ombuds services
• Workplace mediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: In-person and online training sessions delivered by experienced fairness consultants. Training covers workplace conflict management, respectful workplace, psychological health and safety, and union-management relationships.
2. Certification Programs: Advanced Workplace Restoration and Fairness Assessment Certification programs offered multiple times yearly. Participants can earn Workplace Fairness Analyst (WFA) designation. Programs include mediation certificate options.
3. Book Sales and Publications: Sale of published books including Workplaces That Work, Engaging Unionized Employees, The Art and Science of Workplace Mediation, and WFI White Paper through their store and Thomson Reuters.
4. Consulting and Assessment Services: Workplace health assessments, fairness system audits, Bill C-65 compliance consulting, and organizational restoration services for government and private sector clients.
5. Ombuds Services and Helpline: Virtual and in-person ombuds office services including conflict resolution, interpersonal mediation, workplace restorations, and quarterly reporting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Workplace Fairness International provides professional consulting, training, and certification services focused on workplace conflict management, psychological health and safety compliance, and organizational restoration. Offerings include in-person and online training programs, proprietary fairness and health assessments using the Fairness Formula methodology, Bill C-65 compliance consulting, ombuds services, trauma-informed investigations, and published books, primarily serving Canadian federal and municipal government departments, unionized workplaces, educational institutions, and private sector organizations.

Product overview

Workplace Fairness International offers a comprehensive suite of workplace conflict management solutions comprising training programs (Workplace Conflict Management Training, Respectful Workplace Training, Bill C-65 Training, Managing Unionized Employees Certificate Program), professional services (Workplace Health Assessments and Compliance, Workplace Restoration, Ombuds Services/Helpline, Trauma Informed Investigation, Union Management Relationship Services), proprietary assessment tools (Testing Instrument for Fairness Systems/TIFFS, Fairness Cost Analysis Tool/FCAT, Workplace Health Scorecard), and published resources (WFI White Paper, The Art and Science of Workplace Mediation, Engaging Unionized Employees, Workplaces That Work). The company also delivers certification programs (Advanced Workplace Restoration and Fairness Assessment Certification, Workplace Fairness Analyst/WFA Certification, Mediation Certificate) that train practitioners in their methodologies. The portfolio centers on their Fairness Formula approach to proactive workplace conflict management and psychological health and safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fairness Formula: The Fairness Formula is a proprietary approach developed by WFI for workplace restoration and health assessments.
• WFI Learning Hub
• TIFFS (Testing Instrument for Fairness Systems)
• FCAT (Fairness Cost Analysis Tool)

Products and services

• Workplace Conflict Management Training In-person training sessions delivered by experienced negotiators, mediators, and trainers covering workplace conflict, resiliency, respectful workplace, diversity and equity, psychological health and safety, self-help negotiation, peer mediation, managerial mediation, and difficult conversations. Targeted at organizations seeking to build internal conflict management capability.
• Workplace Restoration and Fairness Assessment Training Advanced two-part training program covering workplace assessments and restorations using the Fairness Formula, including Fairness Assessments, Health Assessments, and Violence and Harassment Risk Assessments, delivered via 10 live webinars over 2 weeks. For practitioners preparing for the Workplace Fairness Analyst (WFA) designation.
• Respect Group Certification / Recertification Certification and recertification program dedicated to the prevention and resolution of destructive conflict and to building sustainable peace at local, national, and international levels, developed in cooperation with Respect Group.
• Managing Unionized Employees Certificate Program Series of two-day seminars addressing the unique challenges of managing unionized employees, covering psychological health and safety standards, change management, collective agreements, performance management, and union relationships. Targeted at managers and supervisors in unionized workplaces.
• Bill C-65 Training Step-by-step consulting services and training related to Prevention, Response, and Support obligations under Canada's Bill C-65, covering policy development, risk assessment, compliance training, and leadership preparation. For federally regulated workplaces.
• Respectful Workplace Training Seminar sessions establishing foundational knowledge about respect at work, including 3-hour introductory sessions and 6-hour sessions for developing Respectful Workplace Charters.
• Workplace Health Assessments and Compliance One-day fairness and health assessments based on the Psychological Health and Safety Standard's 13 psychosocial risk factors, helping organizations achieve compliance with Bill C-65 (federal) and Bill 30 (Alberta) requirements.
• Workplace Restoration Comprehensive suite of workplace interventions following a five-phase Organizational Restoration Process: Organizing, Assessment, Assessment Reporting and Recommendation, Treatment, and Monitoring. For troubled workplaces needing turnaround and culture repair.
• Ombuds Services / Helpline Independent, neutral, informal, and confidential services promoting respectful communication and collaboration, including conflict resolution, interpersonal mediation, workplace restorations, relationship rebuilding, meeting facilitation, conflict coaching, and training. Delivered as virtual and in-person ombuds office services with quarterly reporting.
• Trauma Informed Investigation Human rights, harassment, and respectful workplace investigations using trauma-informed approaches to reduce negative impact, with options for investigation suitability assessments and recommendations for structural change.
• Union Management Relationship Services Services including union-management relationship building, collective bargaining facilitation, joint committee facilitation, grievance mediation, and grievance arbitration, designed for organizations with unionized workforces.
• Fairness System Audits Quick and efficient general audits of workplace fairness systems providing a preliminary score and general advice on improving existing systems, using the Fairness Formula.
• Advanced Workplace Restoration and Fairness Assessment Certification 40-hour online certification program with 10 live webinars over 2 weeks covering workplace assessments and restorations, offering 8 CEE points per session through ADRIO accreditation, and certification as Workplace Fairness Analyst (WFA).
• Workplaces That Work (Book) Practical guide to conflict management systems in union and non-union workplaces offering quantitative solutions and instruments for workplace diagnostics, published by Thomson Reuters / Canada Law Book, priced at $99.
• Engaging Unionized Employees (Book) Guide to understanding how unionized employees become engaged through union support, addressing the unique challenges and potential rewards of union-management engagement, published by Thomson Reuters, priced at $60.
• The Art and Science of Workplace Mediation (Book) Book providing resources on integrating mediation into workplace settings for both non-unionized and unionized environments, covering legal, employment, and general workplace contexts, published by Thomson Reuters / Carswell, priced at $69.
• WFI White Paper 120-page perfect-bound empirical study of conflict management systems describing public and private forms of conflict management in union and non-union Canadian workplaces, sold at $20 USD through the WFI store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction in grievances and workplace disputes through effective conflict management systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsorship of certification programs. ADRIO provides training standards and accreditation procedures. WFI certification programs offer CEE points through ADRIO. Joint events and program development for dispute resolution and workplace fairness practitioners.
• Respect GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on respectful workplace training and certification. Respect Group developed Keeping Respect Alive program. WFI developed cooperative training on intersection of psychological health & safety and civility/respect. Joint conference events.
• Thomson Reuters (Carswell)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublishing partner for WFI books including Workplaces That Work (2006), Engaging Unionized Employees (2010), and The Art and Science of Workplace Mediation (2014). Thomson Reuters distributes through their retail and institutional channels.
• Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR) - University of TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for workplace governance, organizational behavior, labour and employment law research. Faculty brings together professors from many disciplines for teaching and research on workplace and employment relationships.
• ADRIC (ADR Institute of Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada's preeminent ADR professional organization setting benchmarks for best ADR practices. Resource link provided on WFI website.
• Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN)minorOthersInternational negotiation and conflict management institute. Resource link provided on WFI website.
• Lancaster HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost partner for Bill C-65 training and human rights conferences. Joint presentation of skills training sessions on workplace harassment and violence for federally regulated workplaces.
• CPA OntariominorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsorship and presentation at Corporate Finance and Controllers Conference. WFI presented on reducing conflict and improving productivity with workplace fairness assessments.
• York UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership where President Blaine Donais serves as instructor of workplace conflict management and Academic Coordinator for the York University SCS Advanced Mediation Certificate Program.
• Cinergy (Cinnie Noble)minorOthersLawyer-mediator and conflict management consultant providing coaching and workshops. CINERGY model referenced as resource for conflict management coaching.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lancaster House: Canadian publisher and conference provider specializing in labour law, human rights, and workplace training; WFI partners with Lancaster House on Bill C-65 and human rights conferences, making it a directly comparable training and content peer.
• Respect Group: Canadian provider of workplace respect and prevention training/certification; WFI explicitly partners with Respect Group on respectful workplace and psychological health & safety programs, making them directly comparable in offerings and customer base.

Emerging players

• Cinnie Noble / Cinergy Coaching: Canadian conflict management coach and consultant whose CINERGY model is referenced as a resource by WFI; both operate in the niche conflict coaching/management space serving similar professional and HR audiences.
• The Ken Blanchard Companies: Global corporate training and leadership development company with adjacent workplace culture, respect, and leadership offerings; comparable in professional services training delivery model and enterprise customer base.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services): Largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in North America offering workplace mediation, arbitration, and ombuds services; competes with WFI at the higher end of workplace conflict resolution engagements.
• Workplace Options: Global EAP and wellbeing provider offering workplace conflict resolution, mediation, and psychological support services; overlaps with WFI's ombuds helpline and conflict management offerings at enterprise scale.
• ComPsych: Global leader in employee assistance programs (EAPs), including workplace conflict and psychological support services; competes with WFI's ombuds and conflict resolution offerings, especially for large enterprise clients.
• TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks/Morneau Shepell): Large Canadian employee wellbeing, EAP, and psychological health platform serving many of the same enterprise and government clients; overlaps with WFI's ombuds, psychological health, and workplace restoration offerings but at much greater scale.
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS): National body providing occupational health and safety resources, training, and standards support; overlaps with WFI's psychological health and safety assessment and training offerings for Canadian workplaces.

Others

• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO): Ontario professional body setting standards for ADR practice; WFI partners with ADRIO to accredit its WFA certification programs, positioning ADRIO as an ecosystem peer in conflict management credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/workplace-fairness-international
• Xx.com/wfica
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Workplace Fairness International