3 Simple Rules...

Many of my posts are timely in that they deal with a fresh new experience that came across my desk that day. Today’s post is a little like that. I’ve just concluded a pretty involved investigation into a retaliation and harassment complaint. There was one little item at the tail end that created some heartburn on my end that got me to thinking about all the investigations I’ve conducted over the years.

HR often plays that difficult middle-role during investigations, seeking to bridge the gap between management and employees as they boldly seek to find the proverbial “truth”. Sometimes this is threatening to employees and sometimes it is threatening to managers, depending on how they each view HR’s role and motivations. Today, we deal with the manager’s role and a few easy steps to keep on HR’s good side. (Only one of my rules was broken today, so it wasn’t the end of the world.)

3 Simple Investigation Rules for Operations Managers to Live By:

Rule #1: Double check your data before providing it to HR.

Nothing will irk your HR leader more than having to “eat crow” and either retract or change a statement they’ve made to an employee. This also makes the employee think that the Company is up to something, even when they’re not.

Rule #2: Play “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” cards from the start.

Don’t try to hide something or frame yourself in a better light by leaving out details. Give ALL the necessary information for a complete investigation up front. Most mistakes that managers make in the course of their jobs are ok when dealt with openly and honestly. When the hidden facts are found, your HR leader will think you were up to something, even when you weren’t.

Rule #3: Don’t freak out.

Especially when the subject is dicey, your friendly neighborhood HR professional is going to have to ask some specific questions to get some specific answers to provide recommendations on some specific outcomes. Don’t get offended and defensive by questions about your team and your actions; that’s part of the gig when you get into management. Just refer to Rule #1 and Rule #2 and keep moving on down the road.

Have a great short holiday week!

Zach
www.azmobilehr.com