07/16/2025

Conducting Employee Investigations with Intent

Know how to properly conduct an investigation at the onset

HR Question: I just received a complaint about an employee doing work for his other job on our company’s time, and it is going to require an investigation. What do I need to know before getting started?

HR Answer: Conducting an employee investigation is a serious matter that must be handled well, utilizing a fair, consistent and compliance-driven process to protect staff and keep companies out of legal trouble. Whether it is harassment, ethics violations, unprofessional behaviors or even illegal activity, HR professionals must swiftly address and investigate complaints with skill and expertise. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for the investigation and read about how a recent situation was specifically handled.

Who should conduct the investigation?

It is essential that you choose a qualified, neutral investigator. According to the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), the investigator should be professionally trained, impartial, objective and skilled. Some organizations are able to fulfill these requirements in house, others use a neutral, external party to assure non-bias in the investigation.

Please select this link to read the complete article from OSAP member Clark Schaefer Strategic HR.