About Heather Hettiarachchi
About Heather
Heather Hettiarachchi, LLB MSc CPHR
Lawyer, Mediator, Investigator
Memberships
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Canadian Bar Association
- CPHR BC & Yukon
- ADR Institute of BC
- ADR Institute of Canada
- Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
- Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
- Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
Recent Committee Involvement
- Chair, CBA National Constitutional and Human Rights Section (2020/2021)
- Executive Member, CBA National Constitutional and Human Rights Section (2015-)
- Executive Member, CBA National Small, Solo and General Practice Forum (2015-2016)
- Executive Member, CBA National Labour & Employment Law Section (2013-2015; 2015-2017)
- Co-Chair, CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable (2016-2018)
- Chair, HRMA Richmond/Delta Roundtable (2015 – 2016)
- CPHR BC & Yukon Mentor
- Peer Mentor and Mentor, Women Lawyers Forum
- Mentor, CBA/UBC Mentorship Program
- Mentor, Beedie School of Business
Recent Presentations/Publications
- Presenter, “COVID-19 and Employment Matters”, CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable, June 24, 2020
- Presenter, “Noteworthy employment law cases 2019”; CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable, February 12, 2020
- Presenter, “Discriminatory Action Under the Workers Compensation Act: Retaliation for Raising Occupational Health and Safety Concerns”, CLEBC Human Rights Law Conference, November 15, 2019
- Presenter, “Mediating Sexual Harassment Complaints”, RegPro 2019 – Professional Regulation & Discipline, September 24-25, 2019
- Panelist, “Duty to Accommodate: Lessons Learned and Best Practices, RegPro 2019 – Professional Regulation & Discipline, September 24, 2019
- Presenter, “Top 6 Employment Cases of 2018 in Canada”, HR Insider, July 3, 2019 (webinar)
- Presenter, “Notable Employment Cases from 2018”, CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable, May 8, 2019
- Panelist, “Harassment Investigations: the top do’s and don’ts”; Lancaster House, Vancouver Human Rights and Accommodation Conference, April 17, 2019
- Presenter, “Human Rights in Professional Regulation”, RegPro 2018 – Professional Regulation & Discipline, September 26, 2018
- Panelist, “Me-Too – Is Mediation an Option for Sexual Harassment Complaints in the Workplace?”, BCAMI Symposium, June 11-12, 2018
- Moderator, Panel on Worker Status, CPHR BC & Yukon, Annual Conference, May 1-2, 2018
- Discussion Leader, “What is your organizational strategy in response to the ‘MeToo’ movement?”, CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable, March 21, 2018
- Presenter, “Notable Employment Cases from 2017”, CPHR BC & Yukon, Richmond/Delta Roundtable, February 14, 2018
- Regular presenter at law firm seminars
- Speaker on Unionization in Canada at DOXA Film Festival in Vancouver, 2013
- Presenter, CPHR roundtables
- Presenter, Lorman Seminars
- Contributor, Small Business BC Blog Posts
- Contributor, OHS Canada Magazine
- Contributor, Canadian Lawyer4Students
- Contributor, HR Insider
Heather is a lawyer practicing exclusively in the area of labour and employment law. She has a unique combination of legal expertise and extensive hands-on human resources management and labour relations experience. Her past career experience includes managing human resources at a large private insurance company as well as at the University of British Columbia, and acting as Labour Relations Advisor to Vancouver Community College.
In addition to practicing in all areas of employment and labour law, Heather provides employers with general human resources support. She also conducts workplace investigations and provides mediation services.
Prior to founding Integritas Workplace Law Corporation, Heather was a lawyer and former chair of the Labour & Employment practice group of a prominent Vancouver law firm. She articled with a leading labour and employment boutique firm in Vancouver, and was also an associate of the labour and employment group of an eminent national firm.
In addition to her LLB., Heather has a MSc. in Training & Human Resources Management from the University of Leicester. She is also a Chartered Professional in Human Resources and a trained mediator.
Heather has represented clients in relation to human rights proceedings, arbitrations, labour board proceedings, privacy matters and employment standards matters. She has excellent negotiation and dispute resolution skills and routinely assists clients with settling issues before they proceed to trial. She is passionate about workplace integrity and focuses on educating clients on utilizing best practices to avoid/minimize workplace conflict.
Employment
Heather’s experience and expertise in employment law includes:
- drafting and advising on individual employment contracts, including executive contracts
- structuring severance packages
- restrictive covenants
- workplace restructuring
- advising on employment issues in the context of buying and selling a business
- drafting employment policies and handbooks
- managing employee performance
- discipline and termination
- occupational health and safety
- disability, accommodation and human rights issues
- privacy in the workplace
- investigations
- conducting Cultural Audits
Labour
Heather’s experience and expertise in labour law includes:
- the interpretation and application of collective agreements
- collective bargaining
- drafting collective agreements
- successorship and common employer issues
- certification and decertification
- discipline and termination
- occupational health and safety, and privacy
- human rights
- investigations
Contact Us
Services
Integritas Workplace Law Corporation is a virtual law office focused on providing practical, timely, and innovative advice for building and maintaining successful workplaces. Our services include:
- Employment Law
- Labour Law
- Human Rights
- Workplace Investigations
- Workplace Mediation
- Human resources support
- Training and Coaching
Phone: +1 604-816-8577