INTERNAL INVESTIGATION SUPPORT

An external investigations consultant can be an asset to internally managed workplace investigations.

WE CAN ADVISE & GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR INTERNALLY RUN INVESTIGATION

If you don’t want to engage an external consultant to manage your entire workplace investigation, you can opt for our supported investigation consultancy service. Supported investigations allow you to draw on the experience of a skilled specialist who will be on hand when you need advice during your internally run investigation. At any time during the investigation, you can contact us and we’ll step you through whatever challenge you’re facing.

Supported investigations reduce the risk of getting things wrong. Conducting an investigation with an expert at your side, can reduce the stress of running the whole investigation singlehandedly and will ensure you’re not making crucial process mistakes that could come back to bite you.

WHAT CAN WE HELP WITH?

We can provide advice and guidance from the moment a code of conduct matter comes to your attention until the investigation report is finalised. From there, we can refer you to our employment law specialists who can assist with any disciplinary process.

Ideally, you should contacting us as soon as you become aware of a complaint so that we can advise you on the best way to manage the matter, help you to lock down crucial evidence and make sure the person who is the subject of the complaint is notified and managed in the right way.

However, you may be part way through an investigation and feeling out of your depth. We can come in at any stage to help get you through the rest of the investigation successfully.

Benefits of Supported Investigations

PROCEDURALLY CORRECT PROCESS

A fair, thorough and procedurally sound investigation not only gives protection to the business but also gives those involved greater confidence in the process, making them more likely to accept the outcome.

There are many examples of employee grievances having been upheld even when the employer may have a sound case for taking disciplinary action, simply because the employer did not conduct a thorough or procedurally sound investigation or disciplinary process.

AVOID UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

An external specialist, with no prior relationship with either party, can help by;

identifying and challenging your assumptions;
Identifying unconscious bias;
ensuring you’re following all necessary lines of enquiry; and
keeping you on track in respect to fair process.

OTHER WAYS WE CAN HELP

Provide advice on how best to respond to a complaint
Advice on how to manage risk
Review the complaint to identify crucial lines of enquiry
Assist with effective interview plans
Help with wording of notification letters
Troubleshoot challenging or unusual situations
Help analyse evidence
Help with investigation findings
Advice on investigation report structure
Advice on how best to notify the parties of the outcome
Our employment law specialists can advise on how to manage disciplinary processes.

SUPPORTED INVESTIGATIONS ARE COST EFFECTIVE

There is no doubt that cost is always a factor when deciding whether to engage an external workplace investigator. That’s where a supported investigation can give you the best of both worlds; a more cost effective solution with the benefit of our extensive expertise. Contact us for a free consultation and cost estimate.