Conducting Bulletproof Internal Investigations

When an employee complains about a coworker, what you do next shapes the outcome, and getting it wrong can be very costly. This 90-minute internal investigations training sets out the steps to run a fair, impartial and professional investigation.

You'll learn how to prepare before a complaint arrives, follow a timeline and step-by-step process from complaint to resolution, avoid common mistakes, and decide what to include in the final report and what to tell the complaining employee.

Because retaliation claims are consistently among the most frequent EEOC charges each year, the session also shows how to train supervisors and managers on what to do and avoid during and after an investigation.

• Prepare your organization for an investigation before one starts
• Follow a step-by-step process from complaint to resolution
• Avoid common investigation mistakes
• Train supervisors to reduce the risk of retaliation claims
• Write a complete final investigation report
• Communicate the outcome to the complaining employee

• Preparing for an investigation before one is needed
• Steps to a fair internal investigation
• A timeline for responding to a complaint or incident
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Roles of the employee, the accused, the employer, the investigator and the manager
• Training supervisors and managers on actions to take and avoid during and after an investigation
• Reducing the risk of retaliation claims
• What to include in the final report
• What to tell the complaining employee afterward
• Examples of investigations done right and done wrong

A professional investigation process protects both employees and the company. This session covers policy considerations, best practices, examples of investigations done right and wrong, and the roles of the complaining employee, the accused, the employer, the investigator and the manager.

It suits HR professionals, managers and directors, business and operations managers, small business owners, risk managers, in-house counsel and business attorneys.

• HR professionals
• HR Managers
• Directors of HR
• Business Managers
• HR Directors
• Small Business Owners
• Operations managers
• Risk managers
• In-house counsel
• Business attorneys

Chad Sorenson is the President and founder of Adaptive HR Solutions, LLC and has over 20 years of diverse business, communications and human resource experience.

He works with companies that range from 5 to 1,200 employees and focuses on leadership development, manager training, employee performance management and employer compliance in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction trades, and professional services organizations. Prior to founding Adaptive HR Solutions in 2008, Chad has been Vice President, Director and Manager of Human Resources for several companies in the Jacksonville area.

He is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional and a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Chad serves on the Executive Committee as the Treasurer for the HR Florida State Council, which has over 14,000 members statewide. He is also the Immediate Past President of SHRM Jacksonville having served as President for 2015 and 2016. Chad regularly speaks to other SHRM Chapters and business associations across the state on topics such as leadership development and employee engagement.

Chad is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. The keys to his success are Devotion to God, Dedication to Family, Continuous Service, Lifetime Learning, and Always Remembering to Laugh.