Workplace investigations: Getting the process right

When a workplace complaint is made, knowing what to do next can make a significant difference.

This practical information session will give small business owners and HR practitioners the skills to manage simple, straightforward workplace investigations internally, while also helping them recognise when a matter requires independent support.

The session will follow an investigation from the moment a complaint is received through to findings and the final report, with a strong focus on practical application rather than theory.

Participants will cover:

• triage – deciding whether a matter can be resolved informally, investigated internally or should be referred to an independent investigator, including what to do in the first 48 hours
• setting up the investigation – developing clear allegations, defining the scope, planning the process and managing confidentiality
• procedural fairness – understanding the key principles that help ensure an investigation and its outcomes are fair and defensible
• interviewing – planning and conducting effective interviews, gathering reliable evidence and managing difficult conversations
• practical case study – working through a realistic workplace bullying complaint in small groups
• findings and reports – applying the balance of probabilities, weighing evidence, documenting findings and understanding what a sound final report should include.