
Get exclusive money-saving offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
While unfortunate, there may come a point where you and your company will need to carry out a workplace investigation. Having a policy in place will make sure you are able to do this by the book and without any injustices.
Read on to see what needs to be done to create a comprehensive workplace investigation policy.
A workplace investigation policy is a document that sets out a company's policy in dealing with a workplace investigation. Having a strict set of procedures when it comes to handling a workplace investigation makes sure everything is done correctly. It also assures both employees and employers that everything is fair and above board, every time.
Download this template at Lawpath
This policy should be used whenever a workplace investigation is needed. Workplace investigations take place when facts and circumstances surrounding an allegation or complaint need to be determined.
Those conducting this investigation must follow the workplace investigation policy down to the letter; this gives credibility to the investigation and ensures fairness.
A workplace investigation policy is only needed when the allegation or complaint cannot be resolved informally.
A workplace investigation policy must only be followed if the event can be dealt with inside the company. If an external investigation, such as criminal investigation, has to take place, then a whole other set of procedures often have to take place.
It is sometimes the case that an internal workplace investigation has to take place before an external or criminal one. If this is the case, you need to make sure that the workplace investigation policy is carried out and recorded to the letter.
The following is included in a workplace investigation policy document:
A workplace investigation policy will not include specific references to job titles or employees. As the workplace investigation will not appoint an official decision-maker until the evaluation is complete, these specifics can be different every time.
A workplace investigation policy is highly effective in offering a step-by-step process, especially when handling such a delicate subject matter. Policies such as these have been refined over many years, taking into account the variety of investigations and cases. Without such a policy, being able to fairly and justly carry out a workplace investigation would be difficult.
The effectiveness of a workplace investigation policy also comes to light when held up against external or criminal investigations. Without a workplace investigation policy, neither of these could take place effectively.
A lawyer is not necessarily needed to write a workplace investigation policy. These policies are often written with subjective work-based policies in mind. However, there are certain legal must-dos when writing a workplace investigation policy, so it can be in your interest to cross-check this with a lawyer if they are unaware of the law.
When writing a workplace investigation policy, it is crucial to write it with care and diligence, making sure that every legal checkpoint has been included and the procedures are being followed. By using pre-written legal templates, you can fill in the blanks and customise them to your own workplace environments.
Free legal documents and templates can be found from a variety of online sources. Websites such as Lawpath and Wonder Legal are some of the most accessible of these websites. Workplace legislation and procedures can be found on governmental websites such as Fair Work and Australia.Gov.
Start your own eBook writing business with our guide to the skills, equipment and legal documents you’ll need.
Find out how to start a baby proofing business and run it from home in this guide.
Here’s how to go about starting a remote IT business to offer installation, servicing and maintenance support to both businesses and households.
From writing a business plan to finding customers, here's what you need to start a compliance audit business.
If you love spending time with dogs and you know how to train them, you might want to start a dog training business.
How to start a pet grooming company, from the equipment to the key skills you’ll need.
Find out how to write a sales assistant resume that will help you stand out from the crowd.
Find templates that help you write a GDPR-compliant privacy policy for your business.
A personal hygiene in the workplace policy will help keep visitors and customers safe.
Find out how a civil litigation lawyer can help you win a dispute.