As a human resources professional or professional responsible for employee relations, it is probably the phone call or office visit you dread the most. When an employee calls to allege serious misconduct by a coworker, workplace investigations certainly follow. In today’s fast-paced business world, where employees are increasingly aware of their rights, and employers are under constant scrutiny, conducting a workplace investigation has become a critical tool for maintaining a healthy workplace culture. And for most employee-related events, the workplace investigation process would not be complete without an investigation interview.

A workplace investigation can have far-reaching implications on an organization, from ensuring compliance with legal requirements to improving employee morale and engagement.

Not every office scuffle or misunderstanding warrants a formal workplace investigation, especially if the complainant and the respondent agree on what happened. In many cases, the problem can be resolved through a simple conversation with the offending employee. For example, if the situation appears to be mainly a personality conflict or rudeness, rather than serious wrongdoing, then you might decide you don’t need to formally investigate. An informal approach could be best if it’s a matter of miscommunication or misunderstanding of company policy. Do you need to gather more facts from other employees or relevant documents?

When you are not sure, it’s better to conduct a formal investigation immediately. If the problem turns out to be more severe than anticipated, failing to investigate can cause legal problems and continued workplace problems that interfere with productivity. Often, you can’t recognize how widespread or substantial a problem is until you ask enough questions.

Why one should attend:

In our increasingly “if you see something, say something" corporate environment, prompt and effective internal investigations enable businesses to take appropriate action to address issues raised in employee reports. Well-conducted internal investigations are also critical to reducing employment law risk and preventing legal liability, and they can boost employee morale and solidify corporate culture. Poorly conducted investigations, on the other hand, can create liability and dampen morale. Properly planning the investigation, conducting interviews that get to the facts, and carefully documenting outcomes are critical components of an effective corporate compliance function and are of vital importance in defending corporate decisions challenged in court.

Areas will be covered:

· Learn why having a workplace investigation procedure is a crucial part of employee relations

· Learn what professionals need to have in terms of experience to conduct a workplace investigation

· Learn how what is done and not done during an investigation can provide legal scrutiny and compliance violations

· Learn how the huge fines and penalties of the investigation process will impact your company’s reputation

· Learn the 8-10 steps of an effective workplace investigation can avoid litigation or out-of-court settlements

· Learn the proper factors of your investigative report can save your company and avoid fines, penalties, and loss of business

· Learn The top 5 workplace investigation challenges

· Learn how Vicarious Liability can include all your supervisors and managers when conducting a workplace complaint

· Learn how the investigation can be a violation if not done consistently for all employees even your highest-income producers

· Learn how the current investigation procedures may conflict with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rules when it comes to confidentiality regulations

· Learn the dos and don’ts of workplace investigation

· Learn how to complete an investigation report to meet legal regulations

· Learn how training your investigation team, or supervisor/ hiring managers will save your company from high fines, penalties, and criminal sanction

Target Audience:

• All Employers
• Business Owners
• Company Leadership
• Compliance professionals
• HR Professionals
• Managers/Supervisors
• Employers in all industries

Watch a preview of our Promo webinar, Workplace Investigations 101: A 2-Hour Virtual Seminar for Professionals, hosted on March 5th, 2025. Gain valuable insights on navigating workplace mental health challenges and ADA compliance.