HR Investigations

About the Course

Misconduct in the Workplace

“The financial hit to U.S. businesses in the past year [2021] was an eye-popping $20.2 billion” - Vault Platform.

Far beyond the scope of HR Policies and Procedures, HR Investigations are structured procedures to manage allegations in the workplace pertaining mainly to conduct or performance, usually of a sensitive nature. In addition to costing an organisation its image, reputation, and credibility, workplace misconduct can impact the organisation’s bottom line.

The process is also a stressful experience for employees and one of the main reasons why HR Professionals and Organisations must learn to effectively execute this responsibility and navigate the related emotional turmoil skilfully. Establishing facts and evidence, even to decide if there is a case to begin with, is a skill in itself. Considering that HR Investigators are professionals in their own right, conducting these investigations requires skills beyond those in HR and must be masterfully executed.

This HR Investigations training course will highlight the critical aspects of thorough investigations. It will provide the delegates with the skills, knowledge, and competencies required to plan and conduct investigations effectively in multiple environments covering the critical stages of the investigation process and detailed steps in the Interview process.

Core Objectives

The delegates will achieve the following objectives:

• Translate the consequences of poor-quality investigations into financial loss
• Locate, identify, and examine evidential Information and data
• Judge and defend a decision to investigate or not to investigate
• Develop questions and formulate appraised opinions
• Investigate effectively by applying Emotional Intelligence and recognising Unconscious Bias

Training Approach

This training course uses a blended version of skills in Corporate Governance, Strategic HR Management, Risk Management, Corporate Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving, Leadership, and Advanced Communication skills, tools, techniques, and data from some of the leading global institutions and individuals from United Nations, Forbes, Society for Human Resource Management, Daniel Goleman, and Kübler-Ross.

The Attendees

This training course is best suited to individuals who lead, manage, coach, consult, advise, guide, support, or are or will be members of managed, self-managed, virtual, and physical business workgroups.

Likewise, it will be valuable to the professionals but not limited to the following:

• HR Professionals
• Corporate Legal Professionals
• C-Suite
• Finance Professionals
• Risk Professionals
• Project Managers
• Operation Managers
• Business Consultants

Daily Discussion

DAY ONE: ORGANISATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

• United Nations Obligations for HR Investigations
• UN Prohibited Conduct Regulations
• Internal vs. External Investigations
• Stress Management
• Prevention and Evidence

DAY TWO: INVESTIGATOR SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS

• Negotiation Skills and Tactics
• Conflict Resolution Capabilities and Methods
• Mastering Body Language
• Information Gathering and Problem Solving
• Emotional Intelligence and Unconscious Bias

DAY THREE: THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS PART 1 – PREPARATION

• Responsiveness & Confidentiality
• Interim Protection
• Investigator Selection
• Interview Planning
• Interview Questions for the Complainant

DAY FOUR: THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS PART 2 – EXECUTION AND CLOSURE

• Interview Questions for the Accused and Witnesses
• Conducting Interviews
• Final Decision
• Closure
• Investigation Report

DAY FIVE: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

• Investigation Form Templates
• Simulation Brief
• Simulation
• Simulation De-Brief
• Simulation Retrospective