The Workplace and Corporate Investigator’s Handbook

Description

The handbook provides a step-by-step guide to the investigation process.

• The Purpose of Workplace Investigations
  Understanding the role of investigations and the importance of establishing the facts.
• Should This Be Investigated or Mediated?
  When mediation may be a better solution than investigation.
• Risks from Poor Investigations
  Examples of flawed investigations and the consequences.
• Legal and Procedural Foundations
  Natural justice, the ACAS Code and reasonable investigation standards.
• Common Subjects for Investigation
  Misconduct, grievances, whistleblowing and compliance issues.
• Drafting Allegations
  How to frame allegations clearly and fairly.
• Choosing the Investigator
  Skills, independence and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Planning the Investigation
  Defining scope, managing timelines and setting expectations.
• Evidence
  Understanding relevance, reliability and evidential weight.
• Preparing for Interviews
  Planning questions and selecting witnesses.
• Conducting Interviews
  Practical interviewing techniques.
• Other Forms of Evidence
  Documents, digital evidence and external sources.
• Drawing Conclusions
  Assessing credibility and reasoning objectively.
• Writing the Investigation Report
  Producing clear, structured and defensible reports.
• Creating Evidence Bundles
  Organising investigation materials effectively.
• Specialist Investigation Issues
  Handling sensitive allegations such as harassment or discrimination.
• Using AI in Investigations
  Practical considerations when using AI tools.
• Specialist Contexts
  Investigations involving senior executives, regulated organisations and family businesses.
• Organisational Learning
  Turning investigation findings into meaningful change.
• Regulatory or Police Referral
  Managing situations requiring external referral.