Mastering the art of effective Workplace Investigations

 

Workplace Investigations for healthy organisational culture – What you need to succeed

Whether prompted by misconduct allegations, working conditions, or compliance requirements; effective workplace investigation procedures can be the ‘sliding door’ moment that has the potential to unravel any corporate brand, regardless of size. Sweeping reforms and whistleblower campaigns, uncovering such issues as workplace safety gaps through to misconduct and fraud are incidents we are hearing more about within many well-known organisations. With a worrying number of examples hitting the media, it’s now more important than ever for management to understand the importance of correct handling of such incidents as soon as the issues are raised.

Every successful investigation requires the appropriate attention, treating all parties with the respect and importance deserved until a full understanding of the incident is discovered. In doing so, consider what could be the worst-case scenario and collate evidence accordingly, at each stage ensuring that the investigation is thorough and handled correctly.

Download our playbook to learn how to run effective workplace investigations that deliver justice to afflicted parties and help organisations build healthier cultures.

Key takeaways:

  • The Backbone of Successful Investigations — To run a successful investigation, you’ll need to develop a strong framework before conducting interviews and gathering evidence. The planning phase is the most critical stage for setting the investigation’s tone and driving it forward.

  • Making the Decision — Making the decision to investigate requires great care. Effective investigations start with a review of the initial steps taken, evaluating external resources, considering legal and regulatory obligations, and identifying if immediate action should be taken.

  • Steps for Running an Effective Investigation — Effective investigations require investigators to organise outcomes from scattered information. This process includes collecting data from multiple sources and mediums, managing physical and digital evidence efficiently with the right tools, and drawing a legitimate conclusion.

Workplace Investigations mock up