How to Conduct Employee Relations Investigations: A "Crash Course"

Today, HR has become the place where everyone wants to complain - and they do so frequently. This is a problem on so many levels; however, the biggest problem is that most HR professionals have not had the proper training in how to conduct investigations. So, when an employee calls HR to complain - what are you supposed to do?

The "fly by the seat of one's pants" approach of just grabbing a notepad and then calling one witness after the other is most definitely not the best process. When the HR professional lacks knowledge in handling complaints and conducting investigations, the employer is at much greater risk for violating federal, state, and even local laws.

Also, there can even be personal liability for the HR investigator for failing to do a proper investigation! The way to minimize those risks, and the costs associated with mishandling an employee's allegations, is in having a basic understanding of what an investigation is - and how to conduct one. This is a must-attend webinar for professionals tasked with handling employee issues!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify when it is necessary to launch an investigation vs. handle issues more informally
• Examine how to ask questions and determine the seriousness in employee complaints to identify if an investigation is necessary
• Identify how to obtain and document a statement of complaint
• Recognize the legal obligations that require employers to conduct internal investigations
• Identify why documentary and physical evidence is critical
• Evaluate some very basic principles in preparing for witness interviews
• Analyze physical, digital, documentary, and testimonial evidence to identify policies and/or laws that have been violated
• Examine a simple format for documenting investigative findings
• Review best practices in handling disciplinary action and terminations to avoid stepping on legal land mines