The Essential Guide to Workplace Investigations: How to Handle Employee Complaints & Problems

Table of Contents......Page 10
PART I: Investigation Basics......Page 14
1. Workplace Investigations: An Overview......Page 16
The Benefits of an Effective Investigation......Page 18
Ten Steps to a Successful Investigation......Page 21
Common Investigation Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them......Page 25
2. Getting Started......Page 40
Discovering Workplace Problems......Page 42
Decide Whether to Investigate......Page 48
Take Immediate Action, If Necessary......Page 51
Choose the Investigator......Page 53
Plan the Investigation......Page 63
3. Gather Information......Page 68
Get Started Right Away......Page 69
Conducting Interviews......Page 70
Gathering Other Evidence......Page 96
Follow-Up Interviews......Page 101
4. Make and Document Your Decision......Page 102
Evaluate the Evidence......Page 103
Decide Whether Misconduct Occurred......Page 109
Take Action......Page 111
Document Your Decision......Page 117
Follow Up......Page 122
PART II: Investigating Common Workplace Problems......Page 124
5. Investigating Discrimination......Page 126
What Is Discrimination?......Page 128
Ten Steps to an Effective Discrimination Investigation......Page 146
6. Investigating Harassment......Page 184
What Is Harassment?......Page 186
Ten Steps to a Successful Harassment Investigation......Page 199
7. Investigating Workplace Theft......Page 228
How Employees Steal......Page 230
Ten Steps to a Successful Theft Investigation......Page 247
8. Investigating Threats and Violence......Page 280
Threats and Violence in the Workplace......Page 282
Ten Steps to a Successful Investigation of Violence......Page 294
Appendix A: Workplace Policies......Page 328
Open-Door Policy......Page 333
Antidiscrimination Policy......Page 335
Antiharassment Policy......Page 337
Antiviolence Policy......Page 339
Appendix B: Forms and Checklists......Page 342
Complaint Policy......Page 329
Complaint Reporting Form......Page 344
Investigation Notice Form......Page 346
Investigation Report Form......Page 348
Adverse Action Notice Form......Page 350
Checklist: Ten Steps to a Successful Investigation......Page 352
Checklist: Avoiding Common Investigation Mistakes......Page 354
Document Checklist......Page 356
Credibility Checklist......Page 358
Discipline Checklist......Page 360
Investigation Report Checklist......Page 362
Appendix C: Sample Investigation Documents......Page 364
Complaint Reporting Form......Page 366
Interview with Bill Martinez......Page 370
Interview with Louise Jay......Page 374
Interview with Sharon Washington......Page 378
Interview with Skip Thompson......Page 380
Interview with Brian Haggerty......Page 386
Interview with Jocelyn Evans (Follow-Up)......Page 390
Interview with Skip Thompson (Follow-Up)......Page 392
Investigation Report......Page 394
Written Warning......Page 400
Investigation File......Page 402
Appendix D: Resources......Page 404
State Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment......Page 405
State Agencies That Enforce Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment......Page 420
Resources on HR and Employment Available From Nolo......Page 423
Resources on HR and Employment Available From SHRM......Page 425
Appendix E: How to Use the CD-ROM......Page 430
Option 1: Accessing Investigation Resources from the CD......Page 432
Option 2: Installing and Accessing Investigation Resources on Your Computer......Page 433
Files Included on This CD-ROM......Page 434
Index......Page 436
Catalog ...more from Nolo......Page 449