Workplace Investigations

Workplace investigations need to be handled correctly from the first complaint. If managers and supervisors don't know the law or proper investigation techniques, employees may feel their complaints are not taken seriously.

This 60-minute workplace investigations training teaches managers and supervisors how to run a lawful internal investigation. You'll learn how to take a statement of complaint, identify witnesses, gather information and physical evidence before interviews, prepare questions and choose interview locations, and conduct fact-finding. The session also covers confidentiality, conflicts of interest, relevant policies and laws, a standard format for documenting findings, follow-up communication and disciplinary best practices.

• Identify common types of internal investigations and the legal obligations involved
• Take a statement of complaint and identify witnesses
• Gather information and physical evidence before interviews
• Prepare and conduct witness interviews
• Document findings in a standard report format
• Apply best practices for follow-up and disciplinary action

• Common types of workplace investigations
• Laws, regulations and legal obligations
• The investigation process: complaint statement, witnesses, evidence and fact-finding
• Gathering information and physical evidence before witness interviews
• Preparing questions and choosing interview locations
• Confidentiality
• Policies and procedures
• Conflicts of interest
• Writing up the investigation in a standard format
• Communication follow-up
• Disciplinary action best practices

A poorly handled investigation can damage trust and create legal exposure. Knowing your legal obligations and following a consistent process helps you resolve sensitive employee issues fairly and defensibly.

This session suits HR managers, small business owners, union representatives, administrators and others who may need to investigate workplace complaints.

• HR Managers
• Small Business Owners
• Union Reps
• Academics
• Accounting
• Administrators

Matthew Burr has over ten years of experience working in the human resources field, starting his career as an Industrial Relations Intern at Kennedy Valve Manufacturing to most recently founding and managing a human resource consulting company; Burr Consulting, LLC. He specializes in labor and employment law, conflict resolution, performance management, employee relations and work with labor unions. Matthew also has a generalist background in HR and provides strategic HR services to his clients, focusing on small and medium sized organizations. Matthew will be starting as an Associate Professor of Management at Elmira College in July 2017. Matthew is the SHRM Certification Exam Instructor at Elmira College. Matthew works as a trainer Tompkins Cortland Community College, Corning Community College, Broome Community College and Penn State University. He is also an on-call Mediator and Fact-Finder through the Public Employment Relations Board in New York State.

Matthew has publications at the Cornell HR Review, Business Insider, Expert 360 (in Australia). He recently published his first book, $74,000 in 24 Months: How I killed my student loans (and you can too!).

Matthew has an associate's degree in business administration from Tompkins Cortland Community College, a bachelors of science degree from Elmira College, a master's degree from the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations in Human Resources & Industrial Relations, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, both the SPHR and SHRM-SCP. Matthew is currently working towards a masters degree in business administration through Syracuse University with an anticipated completion date of December 2017.