Expert HR Investigations in Ireland: Ensuring Fairness and Compliance

Irish employers have a legal duty to investigate workplace complaints. Failure can damage your reputation, lead to WRC claims, and lower morale. Common reasons for investigations include:

• Allegations of bullying or harassment.
• Claims of discrimination.
• Instances of gross misconduct or serious policy breaches.
• Formal workplace grievances or significant Health & Safety concerns.

Workplace investigations are sensitive. Our experienced HR consultants, knowledgeable in Irish employment law and WRC Codes, manage each case with objectivity and professionalism. We offer:

• Independent Investigations: External expertise from advisors like Mary or David ensures impartiality, free from internal bias, guaranteeing fairness.
• Compliant Process: We follow a structured, WRC-compliant process: initial consultation, clear terms of reference, confidential interviews, evidence review, and a comprehensive, unbiased report with practical recommendations.
• Internal Team Support: If you investigate in-house, we offer guidance, templates, and advice on communication and confidentiality to ensure a robust process.
• Post-Investigation Support: We can assist with subsequent disciplinary or grievance meetings, implementing changes, mediation, or preventative training.

Choosing the right partner is vital. With PurpleTree, your Irish business benefits from:

• Deep Irish Employment Law Expertise: Our senior team ensures full compliance.
• Guaranteed Impartiality: As an independent consultancy, we deliver unbiased outcomes.
• Utmost Confidentiality: Sensitive matters are handled with complete discretion.
• Efficient Process: We work efficiently to resolve matters without unnecessary delays.
• Tailored Solutions: Our approach suits your specific SME size and sector.

Our practical investigation services are ideal for Irish SMEs and other organisations. We typically support:

• SMEs lacking dedicated internal HR expertise for complex investigations.
• Public sector bodies needing independent oversight.
• Non-profits and community groups.
• Larger companies requiring external, impartial support.

Even with good intentions, investigation mistakes can compromise fairness or legality. PurpleTree helps your Irish business avoid errors like:

• Delaying action when an issue is raised.
• Allowing conflicts of interest to affect the investigation.
• Poor record-keeping (our HR Duo software helps here).
• Breaching confidentiality.
• Not following fair procedures and natural justice – crucial under Irish law.

Getting our expert help is straightforward:

1. Confidential Contact: Discuss your situation with us.
2. Consultation & Planning: We’ll assess the scope and outline a clear plan with senior advisors like Mary, Seán, or David.
3. Investigation Management: Our team conducts the investigation efficiently and discreetly.
4. Clear Reporting: You receive a comprehensive report with findings and actionable recommendations.
5. Ongoing Guidance: We can support implementing findings and preventing future issues.

Robust investigations rely on careful evidence collection and meticulous documentation. Our skilled investigators identify and ethically gather witness testimonies, digital evidence, and other relevant information, ensuring GDPR compliance. Accurate record-keeping is paramount for WRC scrutiny; HR Duo can assist with secure storage.

• Systematic gathering of all relevant evidence.
• GDPR-compliant evidence handling.
• Detailed records of each investigation stage.

Effectively communicating investigation outcomes is critical. PurpleTree provides expert guidance on delivering findings to all parties with sensitivity and clarity, ensuring compliance. We help draft outcome letters and support you in implementing subsequent actions like disciplinary processes or mediation, fostering fair resolutions.

• Guidance on fair communication of findings.
• Assistance with clear, legally sound outcome letters.
• Support for post-investigation actions and processes.