The Importance of Employee Misconduct Policy and Harassment Investigations

When considering a new hire, employers typically investigate the tentative employee’s skills and abilities, distinguishing whether they are capable of performing the given assignments. However, employers must examine much more than competence when looking to employ. They must scrutinize the person as a whole, acknowledging whether they will follow the company’s etiquette and established manners of behavior. Unfortunately, some slip through the cracks and others may be accused of entanglements they weren’t involved in. With that said, employee misconduct policy and harassment investigations are vital in preserving the health of both the company and the individuals representing the enterprise.

Employee Misconduct Policy

All institutions possess an employee misconduct policy which encompasses guidance on the operation and performance management of the company along with the discipline, suspension and termination repercussions that may follow. This is key in regulating deliberate violations of policy. Yet this doesn’t negate the wrongful accusations that may occur regarding employee misconduct policy further proving the significance of employee misconduct policy and harassment investigations. Understanding the workings of these cases remains paramount in both avoiding these situations and undertaking them.

Conducting Employee Misconduct and Harassment Investigations

When approaching incidents involving accusations of disregard towards employee misconduct policy or harassment policy, investigators inspect with purpose, only taking action to expose the truth. Furthermore, conducting in an efficient manner emphasizes the severity and importance of the situation. Acknowledging this, an investigation plan begins in which examiners establish the nature of the misconduct, the methods of investigation necessary in regards to the employee misconduct policy along with discovering the resources of evidence and witnesses available. Logging the high-level information about the case is crucial to the process. As the case develops and in retaliation prevention, employees in question may need to change their hours, working  location or even receive a paid leave. On the other hand, this may be viewed as retaliation itself if the employee does not consent to this. Keeping this in mind, the complainant and the accused  must be protected in the investigation whether that means giving them time off work or a schedule readjustment. Moreover, avoiding the jump to conclusions but respecting the evidence is essential. Along with this, documenting everything, receiving external help to evade an inappropriate internal investigation, active communication, neutral interview questions, assessing credibility and avoiding biases are all necessary to the conduction of the examination.

The Importance of Employee Misconduct Policy and Investigations to Maintain a Healthy Environment

After reviewing the management of employee misconduct investigations and employee misconduct policy itself, the weight of these procedures appears obvious. Without policies in place and methods of investigation when those policies are manipulated, chaos ensues, and the working environment becomes a futile climate. Overall, this form of protection is necessary in keeping a safe workspace, and ESPI continues to fight threats like these. Contact us to handle your employee misconduct and harassment investigations.