How to Conduct an Internal Investigation - Vital Piece of EEO Compliance

No two investigations are the same - even a seasoned veteran who has handled discrimination complaints and conducted internal investigations can still benefit from a deeper understanding of how to ensure EEO compliance. The risk of not properly conducting an investigation is substantial in terms of fines, penalties and settlements, but also court costs and deterioration in the organization’s reputation. This webinar will present plain language ideas for conducting investigations.

Why Should You Attend:

Conducting an internal investigation is a vital piece of EEO compliance. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which is the cornerstone of employment law, requires that any discrimination complaint be swiftly and thoroughly investigated. Organizations that do not properly conduct the investigation are at tremendous risk of lawsuits, fines and/or settlements, many of them in six figures.

Other anti-discrimination laws, including Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Employment Act, Drug Free Workplace Act and OSHA regulations also require immediate and swift investigations of discrimination and safety complaints. This webinar will include a step-by-step process for conducting an investigation and strategies for dealing with difficult investigation issues. The webinar instructor, an EEOC trained investigator, will share a wealth of her experience to provide an informative session.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Laws requiring employers to conduct investigations
• Identifying the need for an investigation
• Common causes for investigations
• Goals of an internal investigation
• Hearing the initial complaint
• Training managers how to respond to a complaint
• Preparing the investigation strategy
• Selecting the appropriate investigators
• Identifying potential witnesses, relevant documents, electronic records, files and communication
• Securing files and records during the investigation
• Preparing and conducting the investigative interviews
• Question preparation and formatting
• Developing the facts
• The importance of summarizing and reviewing responses during the interview
• Note-taking strategies
• Reading body language
• Conducting a post-interview evaluation
• Preparing the final report
• Managing challenges during an internal investigation, including hostile witnesses, attempts to tamper with documents, managing confidentiality and mitigating gossip
• Helpful resources and websites

Who Will Benefit:

• Human resources managers
• Directors
• Generalists
• Staff involved in the internal investigation process
• Business owners
• Human resources consultants whose practice includes conducting internal investigations or advising clients regarding internal investigations