Workplace Violence and Harassment: A Forensic Investigation Handbook

Workplace Violence and Harassment: A Forensic Investigation Handbook is a definitive manual for those tasked with screening and conducting workplace investigations of varying severity, sensitivity, and complexity. The opening chapter delves into the definition of workplace violence and discusses how different organizations have attempted to carve out policies to reflect its often interpretive nature. The second chapter examines the definitions of workplace harassment and sexual harassment and misconduct. It discusses the challenges investigators and organizations alike may face if a workplace has tolerated such behavior in the past and is now actively investigating such claims. Through a forensic and investigative lens, Chapter 3 addresses discrimination in the workplace and poisoned or toxic environments. Chapter 4 looks at how an investigator should begin the process of a formal inquiry and whether an impartial third party should be brought into the investigation. In Chapter 5, readers examine best practices for conducting investigative interviews, from constructing interview questions to selecting interview spaces to documenting and recording interactions with all parties involved. The closing chapter addresses what comes after the completion of all interviews and the delivery of investigative reports, as well as how investigators can remain safe and healthy throughout the process. Workplace Violence and Harassment is a unique and critical guide for future and practicing human resource managers, private corporate investigators, and corporate legal counsel.