Informed Consent Form

Name and Contact Information of Researchers:

Student’s Name, Department, Faculty

Tel.:
Email:
Supervisor and Contact Information: Dr. Ania Zbyszewska; ania.zbyszewska@carleton.ca

Project Title
Work History Interview: Narrative and Analysis

Project Sponsor and Funder (if any)

N/A

Carleton University Project Clearance

Clearance #: # 116227 Effective, 13 September 2021

Invitation
You are invited to take part in a research project because you are an individual who has experience of
work and employment. The information in this form is intended to help you understand what we are
asking of you so that you can decide whether you agree to participate in this study. Your participation in
this study is voluntary, and a decision not to participate will not be used against you in any way. As you
read this form, and decide whether to participate, please ask all the questions you might have, take
whatever time you need, and consult with others as you wish.

What is the purpose of the study?

This study is carried out as an element of final assessment in the Employment Law (LAWS 3401A and
LAWS 3401B) course in Carleton University’s Department of Law and Lega Studies. The purpose of this
particular assignment is to link the theoretical and classroom discussion about work regulation in Ontario
(and more generally) and the regulatory gaps or critical policy issues related to work regulation, with the
appreciation of the lived experience of work and labour markets for differently-situated people and at
different life stages. Related to this, the project aims to illuminate the relationship between the letter of
law and its practical operation and concrete relevance for people's lives. Apart from the intellectual skills
of analysis and synthesis that this research project will foster and evaluate, interviewing people is a key
practice in legal professions, and a highly transferrable skill/experience. Carrying out this study will help
students develop these skills.

What will I be asked to do?

If you agree to take part in the study, we will ask you to:
Participate in an individual interview carried out by the above name student. The interview will take no
more than 1-hour of your time. During the interview, you will be asked to talk about your work and
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employment history, and your knowledge of and encounters with employment law. A semi-structured
interview style will be adopted; that is, a style of interviewing that uses some prompting questions but
where part of the discussion could be unstructured; for instance, when follow up questions are used.

Your name will not be recorded but demographic information about, race, citizenship status, ethnic
origin, disability, sex (biological male/female difference), gender identity or gender expression (which
may or may not vary from biological sex), sexual orientation, family and marital status will be recorded.
Your confidentiality will be protected.

The interview will be held over an online/videoconference tool (e.g. zoom, skype, google hangout, etc.)
or in person only if you and the interviewer are members of the same household; the mode will be
mutually determined by you and the interviewer.
The interviewer will take notes.

Risks and Inconveniences

We do not anticipate any risks to participating in this study. It might be, however, that talking about your
employment and work history will bring up uncomfortable memories and feelings.
The Walk-In Counselling Clinic provides free-of-charge, immediate counselling services to all members
of the community, with no restrictions based on age or location/address. No appointment is necessary.
You can find contact information for a service location that is convenient for you on The Walk-In
Counselling Clinic’s webpage: walkincounselling.com.

Possible Benefits
You may not receive any direct benefit from your participation in this study. However, your participation
is likely to allow the student researcher to better understand the concrete relevance of legal norms, gaps
between law in books and law in practice, and the diversity of experiences that people have within the
labour market over their life course.

Compensation/Incentives
You will not be paid or compensated for your participation in this study.

No waiver of your rights

By (electronically) signing this form, you are not waiving any rights or releasing the researchers from any
liability.

Withdrawing from the study

If you withdraw your consent during the course of the study, all information collected from you before
your withdrawal will still be used.
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Confidentiality
We will remove all identifying information from the study data as soon as possible. Your name will not
be recorded and a pseudonym will be used instead.
We will treat your personal information as confidential, although absolute privacy cannot be guaranteed.
No information that discloses your identity will be released or published without your specific consent.
Research records may be accessed by the Carleton University Research Ethics Board in order to ensure
continuing ethics compliance.
All interview data will be kept in a password-protected [or encrypted] file on a secure computer.

Data Retention
Your data will be retained for a period of 1 year and then securely destroyed.

New information during the study

In the event that any changes could affect your decision to continue participating in this study, you will be
promptly informed.

Ethics review
This project was reviewed and cleared by the Carleton University Research Ethics Board [A]. If you have
any ethical concerns with the study, please contact Carleton University Research Ethics Board (by phone
at 613-520-2600 ext. 2517 or by email at ethics@carleton.ca).

Statement of consent – print and sign name

I voluntarily agree to participate in this study. ___Yes ___No

________________________ ________________________
Signature of participant Date

Research team member who interacted with the subject

I have explained the study to the participant and answered any and all of their questions. The participant
appeared to understand and agree. I provided a copy of the consent form to the participant for their
reference.

____________________________ _____________________
Signature of researcher Date