Overview
Workplace investigations require a sensitive and strategic approach and well-trained counsel to reach the best possible outcome. Failing to conduct proper workplace investigations can have monumental repercussions for employers. Such repercussions impact employee morale, business operations, brand, reputation, and legal exposure. Our Workplace Investigations Team is uniquely equipped to conduct, manage, supervise, and provide advice regarding workplace investigations involving a variety of employment-related issues, including harassment and discrimination, safety, workplace violence, ethics, interpersonal conflicts, financial misconduct, and violations of employer policies. In addition to other high profile matters, we also have particular experience navigating investigations requiring Board of Director and senior management involvement.
Our Services
We work with clients’ Boards of Directors, executives, in-house counsel, and human resources professionals to provide guidance in advance of, during, and in the aftermath of a workplace investigation. Our services include:
• Planning, conducting, and managing impartial workplace investigations that provide clients with substantive fact-finding reports to allow them to make effective and informed decisions
• Providing guidance to support compliance with laws involving and impacting workplace investigations.
• Providing training and updates to human resources and management personnel to ensure that they understand their responsibilities in the event of an investigation. Our training modules can be presented to employees on a local or national scale, including via webinar.
• Helping clients identify situations that require a workplace investigation or where an investigation would be a good practice
• Development and execution of resolution strategies, including mediation and counsel during transition periods and preventive measures.
Our Team
Members of our team are experienced in conducting impartial workplace investigations, including members that hold workplace investigator certificates from the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI). Our Workplace Investigations practice is chaired by Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson, a partner, who serves on the Board of Directors of AWI and as a faculty member for AWI Training Institute for Workplace Investigators and Workplace Investigations Basics Seminar. Team members regularly present on workplace investigations for firm clients and a variety of professional groups including the Society of Human Resource Management chapters, AWI, and more.
Conducted a sensitive workplace investigation at a national multi-billion dollar company involving a C-Suite executive and EEO-focused allegations.
Conducted an investigation for Connecticut independent school regarding allegations of sexual misconduct by former faculty members.
Conducted investigation for a Connecticut university regarding allegations of race discrimination and potential violations of university policies regarding discrimination and harassment.
Conducted an investigation for a Fortune 500 company faced with allegations of bullying, sabotage, and harassment involving an executive.
Conducted workplace investigations training for clients’ Human Resources and C-Suite leadership teams to understand the workplace investigations lifecycle and appropriate roles of internal stakeholders.
Conducted a workplace investigation for a national multi-billion dollar construction and engineering firm involving allegations of disability discrimination involving a member of the C-Suite.
Conducted a workplace investigation for a nonprofit organization involving possible embezzlement of over $250,000, misuse of funds, fraudulent reporting to funders, fraudulent reporting to the Board of Directors, and related matters.
Conducted a workplace investigation for a national healthcare organization involving allegations of violations involving the organization’s anti-discrimination and harassment policies among the C-Suite team.
Conducted workplace culture assessments for clients, ranging from national, multi-billion dollar, publicly traded companies to nonprofit organizations.
Supervised numerous workplace investigations conducted by clients’ internal Human Resources, Compliance, and/or Legal teams involving allegations of:
