Workplace Investigations on the Rise
17 May 2024With so many people stressed by the financial pressure they are under in the current economic climate, it’s not surprising that those stresses negatively impact personal relationships and workplace relationships.
It’s obviously important to support your people in such times and be alert to those who may need special assistance and support.
But when conflict arises what are your options?
When people raise issues of concern with aspects of their role or work environment, or make complaints against other people, it’s important to take them seriously and take action to address them quickly and efficiently.
In many cases it may be appropriate to have the respective parties agree to informal mediation to try and resolve the conflict between them. We, and other parties, provide such services, which can be arranged very quickly and provide the best chance to repair a relationship breakdown. Attempting to arrange mediation by MBIE may take many weeks or months and by then it’s usually much too late to repair the relationship and the mediation process becomes more about the terms of separation of the aggrieved party.
In some cases, the complaint may seem so serious that a formal workplace investigation should be conducted. At its core, a workplace investigation aims to ascertain the facts and equip the decision maker with the necessary information to determine an appropriate course of action.
While internal workplace investigations can be undertaken; an independent approach is recommended. If you engage us to conduct the investigation, the benefits are:
- An independent approach, free from in-house politics and bias;
- Immediate response to deal with your issue;
- Professional and comprehensive investigation processes;
- Commitment to the principles of natural justice;
- Sound judgment in reaching findings of fact based on many years of experience;
- A comprehensive written report;
- A focus on getting the task completed without delay;
- More time for you to focus on your key responsibilities;
- All at a cost-effective price.
Armed with our independent report, you can decide on the proper course of action with confidence.
Note: We do not decide whether or not disciplinary action should be taken – that is your decision.
Having dealt with such an incident, don’t think it’s all over. The conflict that is manifesting itself in your workplace may be symptomatic of a broader cultural issue, in which case you may need to consider whether a broader culture survey is required.
Our team are experienced investigators, with significant experience across all sectors. We are members of the American Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI).
For more information on mediation services, investigations or culture surveys, contact:
Justine O’Connell 021 920 410, or Michelle Battersby 021 993 735