Steps To A Successful Workplace Investigation [Slideshare]

Bob Arden https://www.arkusinvestigators.com 2m 399 #investigation

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Investigation In The Workplace

HR representatives and other types of workplace professionals already know how important it is to be something of a detective. In all of their dealings with employees and potential employees, workplace professionals need to be able to make judgments about important issues based on the evidence they collect. Yet although conducting an interview with a job candidate can seem like a criminal investigation at times, there are situations in which a workplace professional’s responsibilities are much closer to those of a detective. Workplace investigations can take as much as 60 percent of a workplace professional’s time on the job, and knowing how to conduct an investigation to resolve such disputes is an essential skill.

A workplace investigation may be triggered by issues ranging from an employee’s suspected drug use, an infraction of company rules, a complaint of alleged sexual misconduct, or any number of scenarios. Whenever a workplace investigation is deemed necessary, it is essential that workplace professionals understand the proper procedure for conducting one. The consequences can be devastating for any business if any such workplace investigation is not conducted with the highest degrees of professionalism and transparency. In some cases, the damage caused by an improper workplace investigation from a legal perspective can be more serious than the damage caused by the inciting incident.

Workplace professionals must take their investigations as seriously as law enforcement professionals take their own. No matter what the situation is, all parties involved deserve to have their concerns handled with fairness, transparency and a commitment to due process. From collecting the information to taking whatever action is deemed appropriate, workplace professionals must follow the proper framework for a workplace investigation — not only to ensure the most appropriate outcome for all involved, but also to ensure that the company won’t be left open to legal challenges after the fact. The following guide lays out the proper procedure for conducting a workplace investigation — following it can help ensure that workplace professionals discharge their duties with professionalism.

About the Author

Bob Arden has been a licensed private detective in Illinois for over 30 years with Arkus, Inc. He has provided investigative services to Fortune 500 companies, attorneys, insurance companies as well as private individuals. His experience and knowledge has led to successful results for the client. 

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