WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS

An internal complaint is an expression of trust. It shows that the employee believes in the organization's integrity. It also provides the employer with an invaluable opportunity to evaluate — and if needed, remediate — behavioral or communication challenges that may be damaging internal culture before they escalate publicly. Honor that outreach with a response that is both thorough and impartial. 

A neutral investigator is essential to this process. They bring objectivity, avoiding unintentional bias, preconceived notions and conflicts of interest. Cultural competency is also critical. A deep appreciation of the role that culture can play in creating interpersonal conflict or misunderstanding is an important component of determining the root cause of the concern. If the allegations are unsubstantiated, a neutral and culturally aware approach maximizes the likelihood of acceptance of the results by all stakeholders including the reporter. If the allegations are substantiated, it creates a strong basis for subsequent employment action that is both thoughtful and defensible.

Many entities provide investigation services. We are different. 

We are seasoned employment lawyers with extensive internal investigations experience, having managed over a thousand investigations arising in a variety of workplace settings from the manufacturing floor to the C-suite. We’ve managed investigations into a wide range of issues, from harassment and discrimination to fraud and conflict of interest to compliance matters, across the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico.

At Respectful Employer, we also appreciate that the matter does not end with the issuance of the report. There may be an employment action to be taken, internal conflict to be addressed, or trust to be regained before the business unit can move on. In light of these objectives, the manner in which the investigation proceeds is critical. Let us help you determine what happened in a way that is fair, thorough, and effective.