At Hand & Heart, we offer professional external workplace investigation services for businesses of all sizes. Our experienced, trauma-informed approach to investigations is designed to support involved parties and provide organisations with a thorough understanding of issues at hand. We are members of the Association of Workplace Investigators and adhere to the guidelines of the provision of investigative services (BSI 102000:2018).
Our approach is problem-oriented, and we strive to reach a resolution that is fair and equitable for all parties. We have worked on over 200 cases, including complex large-scale complaints. We are uniquely qualified in digital investigations, and collaborate with a wide network of trusted professionals to deliver comprehensive solutions for our clients.
Our investigations go beyond the facts; we look for underlying causes and patterns that could indicate opportunities for improvement. We understand that investigations can be a difficult and uncomfortable process, and our team is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone involved.
We believe workplace investigations are essential for creating safe and equitable workplaces, and we are committed to helping our clients create an environment that respects and supports the rights and needs of their employees. Our services include:
Interviewing and gathering evidence, such as witness statements, documents, and other materials that could shed light on the alleged misconduct or dispute.
Investigating complaints of harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.
Developing and implementing policies and procedures for workplace investigations, including the parameters of the investigation, how to handle confidential information, and the process for obtaining and preserving evidence.
Providing impartial and fair investigation services, such as gathering facts, assessing credibility, and interpreting relevant legal considerations.
Analysing evidence and determining the facts of the case, while considering the applicable laws and standards of proof.
Documenting findings and preparing reports that outline the conclusions of the investigation and recommend corrective action or solutions.
Assisting in the resolution of disputes, such as facilitating settlement negotiations, providing mediation services, or reviewing proposed settlement agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and company policies.
Training on workplace investigation best practices, such as the proper handling of sensitive information and the use of appropriate protocols to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
How Investigations Happen
H&H provides efficient, thorough, and discreet investigations. Our approach is confidential, impartial, and fair to employees.
We discuss the scope of the investigation with you, i.e. which allegations need to be investigated.
We interview relevant employees, either in person or through video conferencing, depending on the hybrid workplace setup.
We collect evidence such as emails, file notes, and digital evidence.
We review and assess the evidence to identify any contradictions that need further exploration.
We give both the complainant and the respondent an opportunity to review and comment on any contradictory or inconsistent evidence.
We analyse the evidence and draw conclusions, making findings of fact and comments on any apparent breach of workplace policies and procedures, if instructed.
We create an investigation report that clearly outlines the allegations and our findings.
Our investigation reports are reliable and include all the gathered evidence, providing a solid foundation for making informed decisions.
If you need professional help with a complex workplace situation, we are here to provide comprehensive and high-quality workplace investigation services. Our services ensure employers can take the necessary steps to comply with relevant regulations, remain consistent, and maintain credibility. Clients can be assured that H&H investigations will be fair, robust, timely and highly effective.
Organisations often face conflicts or unresolved issues that can be difficult to understand. H&H provides evaluations, reviews, and audits to help initiate resolution. Our neutral evaluation and audit services enable organisations to identify the sources of allegations and problems, and work towards cultural change.
With a confidential and impartial interview process, H&H facilitates an open discussion to create a secure atmosphere. After completion, organisations receive a comprehensive report that includes frequent themes and attainable recommendations to promote team culture and modify behaviours.
MANAGING WORKPLACES THROUGH INVESTIGATIONS
H&H places a big focus on activities and interventions which enable your team to work through the challenges before them. These are varied and tailored specifically to a client’s needs and situation; but they are always focused on equity and empowerment, including mitigation tool kits for the future.
We have created and delivered activities such as:
Facilitating discussions with teams, to understand and reflect on events
1-on-1 meetings with employees to allow them to ask questions about the investigation process, and to hear some of the outcomes
Undertaking a smartphone-enabled team-building program based on mindfulness and building resilience
Coaching managers who struggled with consistent management
Designing creative and fun team-building activities for a team – with memorable and tangible outcomes.
H&H have extensive experience working with unstable and distressed teams. Our approach is sensitive and caring, while maintaining client standards and expectations.
We work collaboratively with clients to design and deliver interventions, so that everyone can regain their productivity and enjoyment of work.
After The Investigation
When a complaint of workplace misconduct is made, it is essential to act swiftly to address the reported misconduct, to implement post-investigation support strategies to repair fractured working relationships and help the team move forward productively and positively. Our expertise in post-investigation support strategies, helping rebuild working relationships is one of the main reasons our clients choose to work with us for this important work.
We can offer you short or long-term support and deliver it via workshops, 1-on-1 coaching, team sessions, management sessions or as pre-defined education modules that can be delivered digitally or in-house.
We work interactively as we believe that the best way to learn is by doing, supported by expertise.
We also design our solutions with your long-term in mind – our work together is delivered digitally in reusable formats, so you can revisit it when needed and share our solutions when onboarding new employees.
