Workplace investigations: the basics

Skills you'll practise

• Explain why an investigator must be independent of the people involved
• Plan an investigation: scope, witnesses, evidence and timeline
• Keep interviews fair, confidential and well recorded
• Separate investigating (finding facts) from deciding outcomes

Course outline

1. 1.Workplace investigations basicsVideo · 2 min
2. 2.Fair, independent, recordedLesson · 18 min
3. 3.Interviewing wellLesson · 16 min
4. 4.Writing the findings reportLesson · 16 min
5. 5.Workplace investigations: the basics: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 19 questions
6. 6.Workplace investigations: the basics: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
7. 7.Setting up a fair investigationScenario
8. 8.Final exam8 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• General workplace-investigation principles (independence, fairness, evidence, confidentiality, record keeping)
• General HR practice (fair process, confidentiality, documentation); check local employment law and your own policies
• Acas: Investigations for discipline and grievance, step 6: what happens after an investigation