Conducting Workplace Investigations with Remote Employees
Workplace investigations are always challenging, but remote workers create an interesting new challenge. But one that can be overcome.
HR Offense -vs- Defense. What’s Your Plan?
It still surprises me when I hear that employees have brought forth a complaint to HR or a company executive, and no investigation was conducted. Although the numbers are reducing over time, some organizations still believe that there is less liability in simply doing nothing. Then, if a claim [READ MORE ...]
Workplace Investigations Improve Company Culture. Really?
Over the last few months, I have been speaking at regional HR meetings on the topic of “Using Workplace Investigations to Drive Employee Engagement and Improve Company Culture. And although I hear some skepticism on how this could be possible, attendance has been at very high levels. When talking [READ MORE ...]
Your Employee Called the EEOC. Now what?
Any employee who feels he/she has been discriminated against or harassed can file a complaint against her employer with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or State Fair Employment Office. Whether or not the complaint has merit, the employer must then spend time, effort, and often money to [READ MORE ...]
How Do You “Deal With It”?
In the February edition of the SHRM HR Magazine, (Yes, I know it’s March but I am a bit behind on my reading. Aren’t we all?), I read an article about dealing with difficult employees that I found to be quite interesting. I know that this topic isn’t new, but [READ MORE ...]
DO POLITICAL ARGUMENTS = HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT?
With the vote happening next week in what may be the most contentious presidential election in U.S. history, HR and Managers need to closely monitor the temperature to make sure conversation do not elevate to the point of bullying or creating a hostile work environment. According to an article [READ MORE ...]
InvestiPro mentioned in Top 5 HR Tech Conference Moments
Not only did Steve Boese, Conference Chairman, vote for InvestiPro as the Next Great HR Technology Company last week at the HR Technology Conference in Chicago, he included us in his Top 5 Moments at the Conference. https://t.co/yIloNDhS2O Discovering the Next Great HR Technology Company While HR Tech, and plenty of [READ MORE ...]
The Top 10 Investigation Challenges: Part 10 – Getting back to work.
Whew....the investigation is over and now we can all get back to work, right? Often it is not that easy. In most companies, employees are well aware of what goes on in the workplace. Even in the largest companies, employees talk about what is happening in their department or building. [READ MORE ...]
Who is going to the California HR Conference next week? We are! We are!
Can you tell we're excited? If you are attending the California HR Conference next week in Long Beach, stop by the InvestiPro booth to say hello and receive a 20% discount off your first workplace investigation with InvestiPro. Let us scan your badge and receive a high quality magnifying [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 8; Why your labor attorney may choose not to conduct your workplace investigation.
When a complaint is received, does your company plan to contact a labor attorney as the resource to conduct your investigation? This has been the course of action for many HR professionals in the past and for good reason. Who better to conduct your investigation than an attorney with [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 6; Hygiene, Bodily Functions and other Uncomfortable Conversations.
Every manager and HR Representative has to deal with this type of complaint at some point during their career. As a matter of fact, these complaints are reported in the work place much more often than you might imagine. There are your everyday complaints, “Danny comes in to work [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 5; The investigation, when your witness won’t speak.
There is such as thing as constructive silence….and then there is just silence. Unfortunately some employees believe that they are protecting themselves, or their co-workers, if they simply refuse to answer any questions in a workplace investigation. But the law does not allow employers to simply state that they [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges, Part 4; How to Treat Anonymous Complaint.
While conducting harassment investigation training, I have been asked many times, “Are we required to investigate if we receive an anonymous letter or email reporting possible harassment?” The real conundrum is whether an email or voicemail meets the definition of a complaint if there is no identifiable complainant. Still, [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 3; Ask these five questions to determine if an investigation is required.
In the business world, nothing ever seems to be black and white. Instead, the daily grind comes in many shades of gray (way more than 50!). This too applies when a complaint is received by an employee, leaving the manager or HR representative to determine credibility of the claim [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 2; Confidentiality – The promise to keep things quiet.
Can you promise an employee that what they tell you about another employee will remain confidential? Can you ask an employee to keep the information discussed in a workplace investigation interview confidential? The answer to both questions is maybe, but not completely. Clear as mud? Many things in business [READ MORE ...]
Top 10 Investigation Challenges – Part 1 When an employee says…I don’t want you to do anything, I just thought you should know.
If you ask any HR professional who has been responsible for employee relations, the majority of them will tell you they have had a conversation that started with this phrase. (I don't want you to do anything, I just thought you should know). Your response is very important, but [READ MORE ...]
The 10 Most Common Complaint and Workplace Investigation Challenges
Welcome to the new series! Although there are many books, white papers, seminars, etc. on the topic of conducting workplace investigations, these generally are learning tools to tech the process and the legal requirements behind the investigation. However, as any seasoned HR professional will tell you, there are things [READ MORE ...]