Social Procurement & Ethical Practice Policies

BlueChip People Strategies Inc. is a sole-principal consultancy: Thomas Slifka is the only employee, and delivery scales through a bench of independent, engaged associates and subcontractors. These policies describe how BlueChip actually operates, not how a larger firm would.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

BlueChip does not discriminate on any protected ground in who it engages or how it designs and delivers programs. This is a lived commitment, not policy for its own sake. BlueChip actively seeks diverse facilitation talent when building or expanding its associate bench, designs inclusive and accessible content (aligned to WCAG 2.2 guidance for all digital materials), and supports underrepresented groups concretely through its work-integrated-learning and Indigenous-partnership commitments below.

Indigenous Reconciliation Commitment

In the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, BlueChip commits to partnering with and subcontracting to Indigenous-owned businesses, facilitators, and specialists where a program's scope allows. BlueChip actively considers Indigenous-owned partners when a program is being staffed, designs content that respects and, where relevant, incorporates Indigenous perspectives, and maintains ongoing cultural-awareness learning as the principal and as new associates join.

Work-Integrated Learning / Internship Commitment

For each active client engagement, BlueChip commits to offering a paid work-integrated learning placement (internship or practicum) for a post-secondary student, with priority access encouraged for students from underrepresented groups. The placement carries real scope tied to actual program work, not token tasks. Thomas Slifka has a track record of hosting and mentoring work-integrated learning placements in prior roles, including during his HR tenure at the City of Grande Prairie and his athletics role at Northwestern Polytechnic; BlueChip carries that same practice forward as a standing commitment.

Community Investment

Thomas Slifka, BlueChip's principal, invests personally in community development through sport and mentorship: he serves as Commissioner of the Alberta Basketball Association, has been recognized as Coach of the Year, and has coached and mentored youth and post-secondary athletes.

Environmental Policy

BlueChip operates remote-first, uses live virtual delivery wherever it is as effective as in-person, defaults to digital program materials, and prefers suppliers and venues with responsible environmental practices. BlueChip tracks travel associated with client delivery and works to reduce it year over year as engagements mature.

Occupational Health and Safety Policy

BlueChip follows the occupational health and safety requirements of each client site where it delivers, and ensures facilitation environments are physically and psychologically safe. BlueChip does not hold a construction/industrial OHS certification (such as COR or SECOR); that certification class does not apply to a professional-services consultancy, and BlueChip operates under this policy and each client's on-site OHS requirements instead.

Respectful Workplace Policy

BlueChip expects respectful conduct in every engagement it delivers or participates in, and models the candid, psychologically safe communication its own leadership programs teach. Any concern raised by an associate, a client contact, or a program participant is taken seriously and addressed promptly and confidentially, with the same standard applied to the principal's own conduct as to any associate's.

Supplier Code of Conduct

BlueChip and everyone it engages operate ethically and responsibly: comply with applicable laws, treat workers and subcontractors fairly, avoid conflicts of interest, protect confidential information, and favour environmentally responsible practices. Every engaged associate or supplier is held to this code as a condition of engagement.

Whistleblower Policy

BlueChip provides a confidential channel for anyone to report suspected unethical, illegal, or unsafe conduct without fear of retaliation. Reports about an associate, a program, or a general concern go to Thomas Slifka, principal, and are investigated promptly and confidentially. Because BlueChip has no internal second-in-command, reports that concern the principal himself have two independent channels: BlueChip's engaged accounting or legal counsel of record, who investigates independently of the principal and reports the outcome back to the person who raised the concern; and, for any client engagement, that client's own designated contract or program administrator, who can receive the concern directly and route it through the client's own governance process. Retaliation against a good-faith reporter is prohibited, full stop.

Mental Health and Wellness Commitment

BlueChip supports mental health and wellbeing through flexible and remote work arrangements and a trauma-informed, psychologically safe working culture, the same approach BlueChip's leadership programs teach clients, applied first to how BlueChip operates.

Last reviewed July 15, 2026. Questions about any of these policies can be directed to thomas@bluechip-people-strategies.com.