Practical insights on resolving workplace complaints and creating a positive culture at work. Please note that the information in these posts is general in nature, and you should always seek specific advice that takes into account each unique situation.
Being interviewed as part of a workplace investigation can be a stressful, emotional and intimidating experience for all parties – the complainant, the respondent and witnesses. Being able to bring along a support to attend the interview with them can be comforting for participants. But is also important to establish some clear ground rules, to […]
In recent years, there has developed an increasing awareness of the potential negative impacts of a workplace investigation on participants. Historically, the focus has been on the impact of the investigation on the complainant. This is because the written complaint will often refer to the impact of the respondent’s alleged behaviour, and put the investigator […]
Conflict management coaching involves a coach working one-on-one with someone experiencing conflict with another person. The coach uses a structured model to help the person in conflict (the client) discuss their conflict through a self-reflective process and help the client gain the ability to manage, prevent or resolve a dispute, or their interpersonal conflicts generally. […]
With apologies to Tolstoy, all investigation processes are alike, but each individual investigation is unhappy in its own particular way! There are frequently similar concerns raised by people entering this field for the first time and we have picked some of them to address today: 1. How long should an investigation take? This is of course […]
At its best, mediation can be a very effective and even a transformative process, which assists parties who have been engaged in conflict to resolve the issues that have arisen in their working relationship. With the assistance of a mediator, the participants are empowered to resolve the dispute themselves on their own terms, in a […]
One of the topics that we often discuss at Worklogic is the necessity of ensuring that all workplace investigations are carried out in a procedurally fair manner, and in particular provide natural justice to any person responding to allegations. Looking at the bigger picture, however, it is equally important that before pushing the ‘formal investigation’ […]
Our blog post this week gives you a snapshot of five key, recent cases and the lessons to be learnt from them for employers. 1. Misuse of the Complaints Handling Process – Adamopoulos v Thompson Healthcare [2017] FWC 2505 In this case, three nurses colluded to bring about the termination of their Director of Nursing. […]
The quality and reliability of the outcomes of an investigation depends on a number of factors, not least of which is the quality of the evidence you, as an investigator, are able to collect in meeting with each of the witnesses. In addition to asking open, probing and relevant questions, an investigator should ensure that […]
Interviewing staff who are traumatised, emotionally distressed or highly resistant to your process, takes a toll on the impartial investigator. Analysing evidence and defending your impartial findings can also be draining, and lonely, when subtle or overt pressures are brought to bear on your professionalism, or your conclusions. Effective investigators should exercise self-care to remain […]
Workplace romances are once again in the news thanks to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Barnaby Joyce, MP. Whatever you think of the reporting on Barnaby Joyce’s relationship and pending parenthood with a former staff member, it is clear that the issue of romantic relationships at work is not going to go away. Last week, […]