Workplace Investigations
Contributing Editors
Workplace investigations are growing in number, size and complexity. Employers are under greater scrutiny as of the importance of ESG rises. Regulated industries such as finance, healthcare and legal face additional hurdles, but public scrutiny of businesses and how they treat their people across the board has never been higher. Conducting a fair and thorough workplace investigation is therefore critical to the optimal operation, governance and legal exposure of every business.
IEL’s Guide to Workplace Investigations examines key issues that organisations need to consider as they initiate, conduct and conclude investigations in 29 major jurisdictions around the world.
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18. What if unrelated matters are revealed as a result of the investigation?
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Greece
Greece
- at Karatzas & Partners
- at Karatzas & Partners
- at Karatzas & Partners
- at Karatzas & Partners
If any unrelated matters are revealed as a result of an investigation and are of legal importance, the applicable legal provisions must be implemented and any relevant policies or agreements between the involved parties should be taken into account. For example, if the reporting procedure sheds light on other criminal acts, criminal law procedure may be followed if the matter is reported to the competent authorities.
If these unrelated matters fall under the ambit of another company’s policies, the relevant procedures may also be followed separately. However, the employee under investigation must be allowed to defend him or herself, otherwise he or she may raise complaints relating to the procedural guarantees of the investigation.
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Switzerland
Switzerland
- at Bär & Karrer
- at Bär & Karrer
There are no regulations in this regard in the Swiss employment law framework. However, in criminal proceedings, the rules regarding accidental findings apply (eg, article 243, Swiss Criminal Procedure Code for searches and examinations or article 278, Swiss Criminal Procedure Code for surveillance of post and telecommunications). In principle, accidental findings are usable, with the caveat of general prohibitions on the use of evidence.
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Vietnam
Vietnam
- at Le & Tran Law Corporation
- at Le & Tran Law Corporation
If unrelated matters are revealed during the investigation, the employer should consider whether an investigation is needed. If necessary, the employer should decide whether it is appropriate to incorporate the new matters into the scope of the existing investigation by expanding the terms of reference. However, such action may not be appropriate if different individuals are involved or the inclusion of a new unrelated matter would unduly complicate or delay the progress of the existing investigation. If that is the case, the employer should investigate that matter separately.
Also, as detailed in article 19 of the 2015 Criminal Code of Vietnam, there is a legal duty on any person who is aware that a certain violation is being committed or has been committed to report it to the police unless otherwise provided for under law. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to criminal liability for the offender.
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Contributors
Australia
People + Culture Strategies
Austria
GERLACH
Belgium
Van Olmen & Wynant
Brazil
CGM
China
Jingtian & Gongcheng
Finland
Roschier
France
Bredin Prat
Germany
Hengeler Mueller
Greece
Karatzas & Partners
Hong Kong
Slaughter and May
India
Trilegal
Ireland
Ogier
Italy
BonelliErede
Japan
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Netherlands
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
Nigeria
Bloomfield LP
Philippines
Villaraza & Angangco
Poland
WKB Lawyers
Portugal
Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Singapore
Rajah & Tann Singapore
South Korea
Kim & Chang
Spain
Uría Menéndez
Sweden
Mannheimer Swartling
Switzerland
Bär & Karrer
Thailand
Chandler MHM
Turkey
Paksoy
United Kingdom
Slaughter and May
United States
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Vietnam
Le & Tran Law Corporation
Contributors
Greece
Karatzas & Partners
Switzerland
Bär & Karrer
Vietnam
Le & Tran Law Corporation