01
What it is
A structured look into a complaint or conduct concern at work, such as bullying, harassment, a grievance or alleged misconduct.
Workplace investigations · Quoted
Workplace investigations: a fair process, and the records to show it.
When a complaint or conduct concern lands on your desk, we help you look into it properly. Concerns in writing, a support person, time to respond, no decision on the spot, and a report you can act on.
02
Who it’s for
Owners, managers and boards who have a complaint on their desk and need it handled fairly, without an HR department on hand.
03
What we do
Plan the investigation, interview the people involved, keep the evidence in order, and write up what we found.
04
What you get
A clear written report and a tidy file, so the decision you make next rests on the evidence.
How an investigation works
01 · Plan
Agree what is being looked into, who needs to be interviewed and which records matter, before anyone is called into a room.
02 · Interview
Each person is told in writing what the meeting is about, can bring a support person, and gets a fair chance to respond.
03 · Evidence
Statements, documents and interview records go into one evidence log, made at the time rather than pieced together later.
04 · Report
A written report that sets out each allegation, the evidence and a finding, so you can decide what happens next.
What’s in the work
- Setting the scope: the allegations, the people involved and the policies that apply
- Letters inviting people to interview, with the concerns set out in writing
- Interviews with the person who raised the concern, the person responding and any witnesses, with support persons where they want one
- An evidence log and interview records made at the time
- A confidential file, with sensitive records kept in fewer hands
What you walk away with
- A written report with a finding on each allegation
- Interview records and an evidence log, ready to keep on file
- The options for next steps laid out plainly, with the decision yours to make
What sets the price
Investigations are quoted once we know how many concerns and people are involved, and the written quote is the fee. For a smaller matter you’d like to handle yourself, our Lifecycle Compliance Blueprint ($97) includes an investigations workbook with an evidence log and a witness interview record.
Prefer to do it yourself?
Related publications
Blueprint
Lifecycle Compliance Blueprint
Fair Work rules and templates for each stage, from hiring to exit.
$97 AUD
32 formsWorkplace Forms Pack
32 editable Word forms for hiring, leave, safety, complaints and exits.
$99 AUD
50 templatesWorkplace Policy Pack
50 editable Word policies for Australian employers, with a how-to guide.
$199 AUD
From our notes
Further reading
Respect at Work, in plain English, for small NFPs
If you’ve heard “Respect at Work” and “psychosocial hazards” and felt your stomach drop, you’re in good company.
Conflict of interest without the lecture
Mention “conflict of interest” in some committee rooms and people bristle like you’ve accused them of theft.
Common questions
What kinds of matters do you look into?
Workplace complaints and conduct concerns, such as bullying, harassment, grievances and alleged misconduct. Tell us what has happened on a free discovery call and we’ll talk through whether an investigation is the right next step.
Can the people involved bring a support person?
Yes. Everyone we interview is told in writing what the meeting is about and can bring a support person.
Who decides the outcome?
You do. The report sets out the evidence and a finding on each allegation. What happens next, such as no further action, a warning or a formal process, is your decision.
General information, not legal advice. Where a dismissal or dispute is live, talk to an employment lawyer.
Tell us what’s going on.
Send us a note through our contact form. If a call is the better next step, we’ll say so.