Conducting an Investigation

A Systematic Approach to Investigating & Fact Finding

The laws surrounding harassment, human rights, and employee complaints issues are complex, and the burden placed on organizations to respond to these issues promptly and fairly is getting heavier. Inaction or mishandling can result in increased costs, including exposure to liability, lost productivity, and even poor publicity and a damaged reputation.

This 2-day workshop, aimed at all human resource, staff relations and senior managers, will introduce participants to a clear, step-by-step process for handling a wide range of complaints including harassment and human rights issues, and will provide participants a clear system, including a set of checklists and forms that will assist them in dealing with these complaints.

Participants will also learn about informal, interest-based resolution processes, how they fit into a formal investigation, and when to suggest and use these resolution-focused processes without compromising the quality of the investigation.

The focus of this workshop will be upon participative exercises. The two days will include practical interview simulations, with optional videotaping and feedback sessions.

Sample topics include:

• how to conduct an effective investigation
• how to apply step-by-step investigative framework in a complaint situation
• how to offer an appropriate first response to complainants
• understanding the legal framework that complaint investigation operates in
• awareness of personal and corporate exposure to liability and the legal implications of investigative decisions
• how the investigative process relates to informal resolution approaches such as mediation, and formal resolution process such as adjudication or arbitration
• what external resources are available, and when to make the appropriate referral
• practice the investigation process in a safe setting with peers
• conflict of interest and other ethical issues
• the use of contracts to protect participants and the investigative process
• core interviewing skills investigators use

Rick Russell, the seminar leader, is a well known mediator, trainer, lawyer and experienced fact finder who served as ombudsman at McMaster University for over five years. Gary Furlong is a trainer and consultant who serves as a fact finder and mediator with the Education Relations Commission. Agree Dispute Resolution is a recognized Canadian leader in the field of alternative dispute resolution, and its principals are internationally known as mediators, investigators, conflict managers, authors, speakers and trainers.

If you are interested in attending this program, contact Agree for details.