Investigations
Olivia Broderick
Executive PA @ stopsexualmisconduct.co.uk | Stop Sexual Misconduct
As the long-awaited?Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Act 2023?kicks in, the Equality Act and the new Act makes it crystal clear, so there is no avoidance of doubt later, 'No employer is exempt from this duty because of size'.
There’s little time for an employer to sit back and gaze at the “to do list” – must tackle ‘sexual harassment’, employers MUST?take a “preventative duty” and “reasonable steps” to stop sexual harassment within their workplace.
It’s easy to imagine that most business owners, leaders, HR managers or compliance officers would feel a sense of trepidation after receiving a complaint of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault within their workplace.
Sexual misconduct occurs in many forms and settings. We investigate all types of incidents. Our services include carrying out one-off and ongoing investigations into incredibly complex and highly emotive matters. In the post “me too” era, we collectively share a far greater awareness of the damaging impacts of this kind of misconduct—not to mention the potential pitfalls for businesses that poorly navigate a complaint and decisions around mounting a sexual misconduct investigation.
However, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and even sexual assault at work statistics continue to highlight a substantial problem across England and Wales.
Almost three quarters of sexual misconduct claims in the workplace go unreported, well the new law will change that. While these percentages point to an ongoing need within the corporate world for efforts to reduce the risks that might set a course towards any sexual misconduct investigation, at least those faced with driving such corporate investigations can use the wisdom of those who have gone before them to shine a light toward resolution in the present moment and justice for potential victims or for those falsely accused.
Critical to this process is swift action and a respectful approach to caring for employees while uncovering the truth.
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Take Care of Your Team
Even though you don’t yet have all the facts, it is important to demonstrate how seriously the complaint is being taken while safeguarding the employees involved. This early step of a sexual misconduct investigation calls for collaborating with the complainant to ensure they feel protected. You should be prepared to separate the complainant and the accused either by moving them to a new workstation or changing their scheduled hours. Alternatively, you may decide it is most appropriate to put the accused individual on paid leave until the matter is resolved.
Ensure a Discreet and Unbiased Investigation
A sexual misconduct investigation can turn the lives of those in its orbit upside down if not handled with care. Every aspect of the investigation must be approached with confidentiality and discretion in mind. Perhaps more importantly, the investigation must be free from bias. This can be particularly challenging in any workplace setting as members of different departmental teams often socialise together. The person chosen to lead the investigation cannot have a relationship with the complainant employee, the individual subject to the allegation, or any witnesses. Any indications of bias may upend the legal standing of the conclusion of the investigation and any resulting action taken. So, if in any doubt, it is always better to bring an external corporate specialist investigator in to oversee the process.
Do you need support in mounting a respectful sexual misconduct investigation in your workplace?
A corporate investigator from stopsexualmisconduct.co.uk is expertly trained to navigate sensitive corporate investigations with diligence, compassion, and professionalism. Working with our specialist investigators who have navigated through this notoriously complex area spanning over 30 years will ensure swift resolution while protecting both employees and the business from future harm.
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Investigating Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace
You will work with a team that has investigated and supervised many matters over 30 years, involving sexual assault and harassment, stalking, workplace violence, internet predators, unlawful surveillance, and child pornography. Therefore, we understand the necessity for each matter to be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.
From medical and educational institutions to professional sports teams, from international corporations to religious and not-for-profit organisations, we have the expertise to investigate the true nature of sexual misconduct claims.
and finally…
We’re sure you’ll find us a little different, after all, we are a unique company, you’ll always find us warm and friendly to have a conversation with and we’re down to earth, so we won’t bamboozle you with jargon either and believe that a crucial part of being a successful business is being extremely approachable and providing easily accessible support through a team of knowledgeable and dedicated experts. We will answer your questions and concerns and guide you through the process of dealing with issues pertaining to the eradication of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and sexual assault within the workplace.
We realise that this is a notoriously complex subject, and?stopsexualmisconduct.co.uk?is readily available to provide a professional and trustworthy service that can make a huge, positive difference to your business.
You can download our online brochure here:?Our Brochure
If you would like further details or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly via my email:?[email protected]?or you can contact our office directly on 0330 043 9727.
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