Conference on Workplace Investigations - Witnesses Interviews(HRCI - PHR/SPHR Certified)

Overview:

In theory, investigating sounds relatively easy but in reality more often is not. This two-day seminar will train you not only in how to perform a professional investigation, but give you a crucial opportunity to conduct a mock investigation. The first day is lecture and real life exercises. The second day is an all-day mock investigation where you can practice and put to use the skills you have learned - without the pressure of "practicing" on the job.

Why should you attend:
When a complaint is received, regardless of from whom, from where or how, the employer is on notice that there may be a problem. There are also many types of workplace investigations that never start with a direct complaint.

Since many companies do not have a person who does investigations as their job and the few persons pressed into service as investigators are often untrained; an untrained person trying to handle an investigation has the potential to escalate a small problem into a big disaster.

Even routine investigations can uncover unexpectedly ugly aspects of the people and/or even of the company so untrained investigators even operating under the best, most routine of circumstances may not do nearly enough to uncover the problem, be easily dissuaded from doing anything at all or not protect complainants and witnesses from being retaliated against.

Learning on the job can be costly in a number of way to the employer, not just in attorney fees or judgments, but also in loss of employees, damage to morale, vicious gossip and damage of reputations and loss of productivity than can take years to repair.

Who will benefit:
HR Generalists
Employee Relations
Business Owners
Plant Managers
Branch Managers
Anyone new to HR

Agenda:

Day One
Lecture 1: Laying The Foundation:
Root Causes Of Investigations
Untangling Problems - Determining If A Manager Resolves A Problem Vs Reporting To HR
Education and Reporting - Adding To Your Existing Training So Investigations And Problem Solving Are Smoother
Mediating Employee Relations Problems That Are Not Investigations
Exercise - Resolve vs Report?
Lecture 2: Overview of How Federal Laws Impact Investigations
Harassment and Discrimination
Safety
Disability
Retaliation
Wage and Hour
National Labor Relations Act
Union Workplaces
OFCCP covered contractors
Exercise - Social Media Discussion - What to Do and What Not To Do
Lecture 3: Processes and Practices
10 Step Strategic Process For Investigations
Types Of Evidence And Evidence Handling
Reviewing Documentation
Documentation Do's and Don'ts
How To Take Good Notes
Constructing Solid, Factual Questions
After Lunch Group Activity - Joe Falls Off a Ladder. What To Do and How To Investigate Lecture 4: Interviewing Witnesses
Staging An Interview
Starting An Interview
How to Get People to Talk to You
Body Language
Disgruntled, Reluctant, Untruthful and Hostile Witnesses
Ending An Interview
Second Interviews
Exercise - Interviewing a Reluctant Witness
Lecture 5: Report Writing
Before You Start Writing - Reviewing Your Investigation
Elements of a Good Report
What Goes Where? What to Use and What To Leave Out of Your Report
Formatting a Professional Report
Lecture 6: Closing The Investigation
The 4 Findings
Determining What Is A Malicious Complaint and Just As Important- What Is Not
Need to Know vs Want To Know
Investigation Communications to Appropriate Parties
Following Up - Closing The Loop
Monitoring For Retaliation. Not If It Happens But When and Where.
Exercise - Conducting a Complainant's Closure Meeting and Class Wrap Up

Day Two
Lecture 7: Mock Investigation - When Sally Met Harold
Class Begins
Taking The Complaint
Asking Follow-up Questions
Determining The Situation and Allegations
Dividing The Initial Elements of The Complaint
Determine if Intermediate Action is Required
Reviewing Initial Evidence
Getting Ready To Interview
Determining Witnesses
Constructing Questions
Interviewing Witnesses
Interviewing the Accused
Determining if Second Interviews Are Needed
Review The Evidence
Determination Of Credibility
Defending Your Credibility Decisions
Your Finding(s)
Writing The Report
What Goes In and What's Left Out
Class Wrap Up

Pricing/Register:

Seattle, Washington | June 5th & 6th 2014
$695.00 (Seminar for One Delegate)
Register now and save $200. (Early Bird)
Until May 10, Early Bird Price: $695.00 From May 11 to June 03, Regular Price: $895.00