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.
Learn more about the response taken in specific countries or build your own report to compare approaches taken around the world.
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01. What legislation, guidance and/or policies govern a workplace investigation?
01. What legislation, guidance and/or policies govern a workplace investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
Austrian law does not impose an obligation on employers to conduct internal investigations and they do not have to follow a specific legal pattern when doing so. However, an obligation to conduct internal investigations may arise out of certain provisions of criminal, company or even labour law – in particular, an indirect obligation arising from an employer's duty of care, which requires them to act against employee mistreatment, such as bullying.
If such internal investigations are initiated, compliance with labour law and data protection regulations is mandatory. According to section 16 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB), the employer must also protect the personal rights of the individual. It is important to emphasise that a company's internal investigation is a private measure and differs from official investigations.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Mainly, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (738/2002). In addition, the following also have relevance in connection to a workplace investigation: the Employment Contracts Act (55/2001), the Criminal Code (39/1889), the Act on Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement and Cooperation on Occupational Safety and Health at Workplaces (44/2006), the Act on Equality between Women and Men (609/1986) and the Non-discrimination Act (1325/2014). In addition, the employer's own policies must be taken into consideration while conducting a workplace investigation.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Pursuant to article 98 of the Portuguese Labour Code, the employer has a disciplinary power over its employees during the employment period. This is enforced through the initiation of disciplinary procedures – which can include a preliminary workplace investigation as provided for in article 352(1) of the Portuguese Labour Code – and ultimately the application of sanctions laid down by law or in an applicable collective bargaining agreement.
The Portuguese Labour Code governs disciplinary procedures, which can include a preliminary workplace investigation, in two different sections. On the one hand, articles 328 to 332 establish general rules regarding the imposition of disciplinary sanctions; statutory deadlines and statutes of limitations involved; decision criteria; penalties; and disciplinary records. On the other hand, articles 351 to 358 lay down the rules applicable to dismissals with cause, which are also widely understood to be applicable concerning conservatory sanctions (i.e. those that enable the continuity of the employment relationship).
Additionally, collective bargaining agreements may provide for different disciplinary penalties, as long as the rights and guarantees of employees are not impaired.
Workplace investigations must also abide by the general rules laid down in the Portuguese Constitution, Portuguese Civil Code and Data Protection Laws (including guidelines issued by the Data Protection Agency), as regards the personal rights of the employees.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Workplace investigations in Sweden are governed by several rules and regulations. Listed below are the central legislation and regulations that govern a workplace investigation related to alleged employee misconduct.
- The Swedish Discrimination Act (2008:567).
- The Swedish Work Environment Act (1977:1160), which is complemented by the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s other statutes.[1]
- The Swedish Whistleblowing Act (2021:890).
If a workplace investigation has been initiated after the receipt of a report filed through a reporting channel established under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, that law applies provided that the report has been filed by a person who may report under the Act and provided that the subject of the report falls under the material scope of the Act. The Swedish Whistleblowing Act implements Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law and has been given a wide material scope in Sweden. The Swedish Whistleblowing Act may apply if the reported irregularity concerns breaches of certain EU laws or if the reported irregularity is of public interest.
In addition to the regulations mentioned above, certain data protection legislation may affect workplace investigations by restricting what personal data may be processed. Such data protection legislation includes the following:
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons concerning the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data (the GDPR);
- the Swedish Supplementary Data Protection Act (2018:218);
- the Swedish Supplementary Data Protection Regulation (2018:219);
- Regulation DIFS:2018:2 on the processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions or offences. This regulation governs the processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions or suspected criminal offences in internal workplace investigations that are not governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act.[2]
The above-mentioned legislation and regulations may overlap in many aspects and it is therefore important before starting an investigation, as well as during an investigation, to assess which rules and regulations apply to the situation at hand. Another aspect of this is that many issues that can arise during an investigation are not regulated by law or other legislation. If the investigation is a non-whistleblowing investigation there are limited rules on exactly how and by whom the investigation should be carried out.
A Swedish law firm that undertakes a workplace investigation also has to adhere to the Swedish Bar Association’s Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct includes additional considerations, mainly ethical, which will not be addressed in this submission. Furthermore, this submission will not focus on investigations following an employee’s possible misappropriation of proprietary information or breach of the Swedish Trade Secrets Act (2018:558). Investigations into such irregularities are often conducted to gather evidence and these investigations include the same or similar investigative measures used in other investigations, such as interviews with employees and IT-forensic searches, but also infringement investigations carried out by the authorities or other measures by the police.
[1] Mainly Systematic Work Environment Management (AFS 2001:1), Organisational and Social Work Environment (AFS 2015:4) and Violence and Menaces in the Working Environment (AFS 1993:2)
[2] Under Section 2 item 4 of DIFS 2018:2, personal data relating to criminal convictions or suspected criminal offences may only be processed if the personal data concerns serious misconduct, such as bribery, corruption, financial fraud or serious threats to the environment, health and safety, by an individual who is in a leading position or who is considered key personnel within the company. The processing of personal data received in a report or collected during an investigation governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act is instead governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, which complements the GDPR and the supplementing Swedish act and regulation stated in item (ii) and (iii) above.
02. How is a workplace investigation usually commenced?
02. How is a workplace investigation usually commenced?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
In general, an internal investigation is only initiated if there is suspicion of a violation. The decision to commence an internal investigation is up to the company, and it has to weigh the pros and cons. For limited liability companies, which are subject to the Association Responsibility Act, an internal investigation may exempt them from criminal liability. Disadvantages may include investigation costs, disruption of operations, discovery of information requiring later disclosure, possible negative media coverage and increased risk of exposure to external parties.
Investigations can relate to specific individuals, departments, or the entire company. An investigation may include various measures, such as obtaining and analysing files and documents, conducting questionnaires and employee interviews, monitoring internet use, video or telephone surveillance of employees and setting up whistleblowing hotlines. Not all measures are acceptable without restrictions. The provisions of labour law and data protection law must always be complied with.
To avoid wasting resources, the objectives of the investigation should be defined in advance. In addition, the selection and sequence of instruments to be used should be determined. A legal assessment of the chosen measures is essential to avoid legal complications.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
When the employer becomes aware of possible misconduct, the employer must commence an investigation immediately, in practice within about two weeks. The information may come to the employer's knowledge via, for example, the employer's own observations, from the complainant or their colleagues or an employee representative.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Having been informed of an alleged infraction committed by an employee, the employer must prepare a detailed written accusation and notify the employee.
Moreover, if the alleged infraction constitutes gross misconduct and the employer is considering dismissal, a formal statement of the employer’s intention to dismiss the employee should accompany the accusation. If this is not expressly done, the employer will be unable to dismiss the employee and may only apply one of the conservatory sanctions. A copy of these documents must be sent to the works council, if any, and, should the employee be a union member, to the respective trade union.
Notwithstanding this, if before preparing the accusation the employer needs to further investigate the facts and circumstances, it may open a preliminary investigation aimed at collecting all the facts and circumstances and conclude if there are grounds to bring an accusation against the employee.
The preliminary investigation must start within 30 days of the employer becoming aware of the facts, be diligently carried out (but with no maximum period laid down by law) and concluded within 30 days of the last investigatory act. Furthermore, the preliminary investigation will suspend the relevant statutory deadlines and statutes of limitations (ie, 60 days from the date of acknowledgment, by the employer or a supervisor with disciplinary power, of the facts to enforce disciplinary action against the employee and one year from when the facts occurred, regardless of the employer’s acknowledgment, unless the infraction also constitutes a criminal offence, in which case the longer statutes of limitation established in criminal law will apply).
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
An investigation can be initiated in several ways. It is usually as a result of whistleblowing or a report on work environment deficiencies, or through other channels (eg, HR, the police, media coverage).
03. Can an employee be suspended during a workplace investigation? Are there any conditions on suspension (eg, pay, duration)?
03. Can an employee be suspended during a workplace investigation? Are there any conditions on suspension (eg, pay, duration)?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
Yes. An employer may always, and without legal restrictions, temporarily suspend an employee during an internal investigation, provided he or she continues to be paid.
However, suspending the employee does not release the employer from an obligation to terminate employment without notice. It must be clear to the employee that the suspension is a temporary measure in preparation for dismissal. A suspension does not entitle the employer to postpone the reasons for dismissal for any length of time. The longer the suspension lasts, the more likely it is that the employer intends to keep the employee.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
There is no legislation on temporary suspension in the event of a workplace investigation or similar. In some situations, the employer may relieve the employee from their working obligation with pay for a short period.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
After the employee is notified of the accusation, the employer may decide on a preventive suspension of the employee if the employee’s presence on company premises is deemed problematic. In this case, the employee’s salary will continue to be paid.
As per article 330(5) of the Portuguese Labour Code, a preventive suspension may also be determined during the 30 days before the accusation is made, provided that the employer, in writing, justifies why is necessary (eg, for interfering with the inquiry) and why the accusation cannot be served at that moment.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
In general, an employee in the private sector may be temporarily suspended for a short period with pay and other benefits during a workplace investigation. The room for suspension without pay is, by contrast, very limited. An applicable collective bargaining agreement may impose additional restrictions on the right to temporary suspend an employee. The suspension should be limited in time and only be in force during the investigation, but can be repeated for (multiple) additional short periods if necessary to conclude the investigation. An assessment needs to be made on a case-by-case basis as suspension in some cases may be considered unlawful. If not executed with sufficient consideration of the employee’s interests, it may be considered a constructive dismissal or a breach of the employer’s work environment obligations. If the employee is unionised, trade unions sometimes request that the employer initiates consultations as part of a decision to suspend an employee.
In the public sector, the right to suspension is limited. There are also special regulations regarding the suspension of certain employees, for example, employees who are employed as permanent judges.
04. Who should conduct a workplace investigation, are there minimum qualifications or criteria that need to be met?
04. Who should conduct a workplace investigation, are there minimum qualifications or criteria that need to be met?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
There are no prescribed minimum standards for this procedure. The responsibility for conducting these investigations lies with the employers. Internal compliance or legal teams are often entrusted with this task, as they are familiar with internal protocols. In practice, these investigations are often overseen by an internal team, occasionally with the assistance of law firms or auditing firms. Those involved in the investigation must remain impartial. Potentially biased persons, such as those under investigation and their close associates, should be excluded from participation.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The employer must conduct the investigation, but the actual work can be done either by the employer's personnel or by an external investigator, for example, a law firm. Either way, there are no formal criteria for the persons executing the investigation; however, impartiality is required from the person conducting the investigation
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
According to article 356(1) of the Portuguese Labour Code, the employer can appoint an instructor, who shall be responsible for the probationary proceedings. Usually, workplace investigations are conducted by external advisors (eg, lawyers), appointed by the employer.
However, regarding disciplinary powers, there is a legal limitation in article 98 of the Portuguese Labour Code. As such, only the employer (or the immediate superior of the concerned employee, if the employer has delegated its powers, as per article 329(4) of the Portuguese Labour Code) has disciplinary powers.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
If the workplace investigation falls under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, the investigation has to be conducted by independent and autonomous persons or entities designated under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act as competent to investigate reports.
If the workplace investigation is not governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, there are no minimum qualification requirements. When appointing an investigator, one should consider who would be most suitable in the given situation. For example, it may in some situations be more suitable to have an external investigator to ensure impartiality.
05. Can the employee under investigation bring legal action to stop the investigation?
05. Can the employee under investigation bring legal action to stop the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
If the investigated employee believes that individual measures violate his rights, he or she can defend him or herself against them, but he or she cannot stop the entire investigation.
In principle, the employee has various rights such as access, rectification, erasure and the right to contest the processing of his or her data (articles 12-17 and 21 GDPR). Should these principles be violated, the employee has the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection authority.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The employee does not have a legal right to stop the investigation. The employer must fulfil its obligation to investigate the alleged misconduct.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The employee under investigation can only bring legal action after the investigation is finished and if the employer has applied a disciplinary sanction.
According to article 329(7) of the Portuguese Labour Code, the employee may submit a complaint to the immediate superior officer that applied the sanction or may resort to a dispute resolution procedure as provided for by the applicable collective bargaining agreements or the law (this is uncommon, however).
Furthermore, should a company dismiss an employee in breach of the legal requirements described above, the latter may take legal action against the company within 60 days of the date of termination of his or her employment agreement. The employee may also choose to file a preliminary injunction against the employer seeking immediate (albeit provisional) reinstatement.
Notwithstanding this, if the employee can prove that they suffered damages as a result of being subject to an abusive and illegal investigation, they may file a complaint with the Labour Authorities or bring a claim against the employer and demand the payment of compensation for the damages caused.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
No. It should, however, be noted that the employee under investigation may claim a right to rectification under article 16 of the GDPR and its right to object to processing under article 21 of the GDPR. This may give the employee under investigation an undesirable opportunity to withhold evidence and obstruct or impede the investigation. The risk of these rights being exercised is, however, considered to be low.
06. Can co-workers be compelled to act as witnesses? What legal protections do employees have when acting as witnesses in an investigation?
06. Can co-workers be compelled to act as witnesses? What legal protections do employees have when acting as witnesses in an investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
An essential part of an internal investigation is the questioning of employees. Their statements contribute significantly to clarifying possible violations. In particular, the legal principles that apply to criminal proceedings, including the right to refuse to testify, do not apply directly to internal investigations.
Employees do not legally have to participate in such interviews. Their duty to cooperate arises indirectly from other legal provisions, in particular from employees’ duties of loyalty and service under labour law.
Austrian law suggests there is a general principle of loyalty, which triggers a “duty to inform” under some circumstances; in principle, the employee and any witnesses are expected to provide information in the context of internal investigations. While the employee is not compelled to incriminate him or herself, he or she also may not withhold work-related information that the employer legitimately wishes to protect, for the sole reason that it might incriminate him or her. The decision as to whether the employee must disclose information depends on a balancing of interests in the specific case.
Investigators and employers must strictly adhere to the permissible limits. This requires compliance with labour law, criminal law and data protection law.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
There is no legislation on a witness's role in investigations. However, the legislation on occupational safety requires that employees must report any irregularities they observe. Depending on the situation, participating in the investigation may also be part of the person's work duties, role or position, in which case the employer may require the employee to contribute to clarifying the situation. However, there is no formal obligation to act as a witness, and there is no legislation regarding the protection of witnesses. If a witness wishes, they may have, for example, an employee representative as a support person during the hearing.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
If the employer decides on an internal investigation to assess potential wrongful actions carried out within the company, employees must cooperate. However, employees are entitled to the privilege against self-incrimination established in the Portuguese Criminal Code, according to which individuals are not obliged to self-report.
An employee's refusal to cooperate with an internal investigation may be regarded as a breach of conduct by the employer and, ultimately, may lead to disciplinary sanctions.
Employees who act as witnesses in cases of harassment cannot be sanctioned unless they acted with wilful misconduct, and any sanction applied to an employee who acted as a witness in a harassment procedure will be presumed to be abusive.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
In general, yes, employees in Sweden have a far-reaching duty of loyalty toward their employers. This includes, among other things, a duty to truthfully answer an employer’s questions and to inform the employer of events that may be of interest to the employer. An employee’s obligation to assist is, however, more limited when assistance would entail self-incrimination.
A person acting as a witness under an investigation governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act will be protected by confidentiality. Personal data and details that could reveal the identity of a witness may not be disclosed without authorisation.
07. What data protection or other regulations apply when gathering physical evidence?
07. What data protection or other regulations apply when gathering physical evidence?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
All data processing must comply with the principles of article 5 GDPR (lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation and integrity). Personal data may only be collected and processed for specific, lawful purposes.
The admissibility of data processing depends on whether the suspicion relates to a criminal offence or another violation of the law. If the data processing is relevant to criminal law, article 10 GDPR or section 4(3) of the Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG) applies. If the investigations are exclusively to clarify violations under civil or labour law, such as an assertion of claims for damages or if they are general investigations to establish a criminal offence, the permissibility of data processing is based on article 6 or, for data covered by article 9 GDPR, on this provision.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Generally, the basic principles set out by the GDPR and the Finnish Data Protection Act apply to data processing in connection with investigations, including evidence gathering: there must be a legal basis for processing, personal data may only be processed and stored when and for as long as necessary considering the purposes of processing, etc.
Additionally, if physical evidence concerns the electronic communications (such as emails and online chats) of an employee, gathering evidence is subject to certain restrictions based on Finnish ePrivacy and employee privacy laws. As a general rule, an employee’s electronic communications accounts, including those provided by the employer for work purposes, may not be accessed and electronic communications may not be searched or reviewed by the employer. In practice, the employer may access such electronic correspondence only in limited situations stipulated in the Act on Protection of Privacy in Working Life (759/2004), or by obtaining case-specific consent from the employee, which is typically not possible in internal investigations, particularly concerning the employee suspected of wrongdoing.
However, monitoring data flow strictly between the employee and the employer's information systems (eg, the employee saving data to USB sticks, using printers) is allowed under Finnish legislation, provided that employee emails, chats, etc, are not accessed and monitored. If documentation is unrelated to electronic communications, it also may be reviewed by the employer. Laptops, paper archives and other similar company documentation considered "physical evidence" may be investigated while gathering evidence on the condition that any private documentation, communications, pictures or other content of an employee are not accessed.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Whenever employers process personal data in the course of an investigation, they need to comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (the GDPR) and Law 58/2019, which implements the GDPR in Portugal (jointly the Data Protection Regulations). If the gathering of physical evidence includes the collection and processing of sensitive data (eg, related to the employee’s health or any other category outlined in article 9 of the GDPR), additional safety measures should be in place to safeguard the adequate and confidential nature of such information.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
To the extent the gathering of physical evidence includes the processing of personal data, please see question 1.
08. Can the employer search employees’ possessions or files as part of an investigation?
08. Can the employer search employees’ possessions or files as part of an investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
In general, it is advisable to back up data, documents, emails and other records promptly to prevent their deletion. Admissibility depends on whether the data originates from personal or professional records and whether they are legally relevant. If internal investigations are carried out based on a specific suspicion of a criminal offence, it is the processing of legally relevant data. In general, the processing of professional emails or documents is permissible. If there is no professional connection, access to private files and documents is only permitted in exceptional cases.
If, for example, using a business email account for private purposes is not allowed, the employer can usually assume that the data processed is only "general" data within the meaning of article 6 GDPR and that such data processing is justified by a balancing of interests. However, if private use is allowed, the data may still be part of a special category within the meaning of article 9 GDPR. In such cases, the justification for its use must be based on one of the grounds explicitly mentioned in article 9(2) GDPR.
The employer must protect the employee's rights under section 16 of the ABGB and must consider the proportionality of the interference. Only the least restrictive means – the method that least interferes with the employee's rights – may be used to obtain the necessary information. The employer's interest in obtaining the information must outweigh the employee's interest in protecting his or her rights. The implementation or initiation of controls by the employer does not automatically constitute an interference with personal rights, as being subject to the employer's rights of control is part of the position as an employee.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Only the police can search employees' possessions (assuming that the prerequisites outlined in the legislation are met).
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The employer is allowed to search an employee’s possessions or files, provided that they are work instruments or of a professional nature.
When performing these searches, employers should consider the specific provisions of the Data Protection Regulations as well as Resolution No. 1638/2013 of the Portuguese Data Protection Authority (CNPD), which contains rules on monitoring phone calls, e-mail and internet usage by employees. The CNPD understands that for the employer to access the employees’ professional data (e-mails, documents and other information stored on electronic devices), the latter should be present during the monitoring, to identify any information of a personal nature that should not be accessed by the employer (the employer must comply with these directions and should not access that email). In addition, review of the data should respect specific protocols to avoid potential access to personal data (eg, review of subject, recipients, data flow and type of files attached).
Body searches or the seizure of personal belongings or documents belonging to the employee are not permitted within the scope of a disciplinary procedure.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
An employer can search an employee’s personal possessions (eg, handbag, pockets and locker) if the employer has a legitimate interest in a search. This could, for example, include a reasonable suspicion of theft of employer property. Furthermore, an employer may search, but not continually monitor, an employee’s computer and email provided that it is in accordance with GDPR requirements. For the processing to be lawful under the GDPR, the employer has to establish a purpose and a legal basis for the processing of personal data. Furthermore, data subjects must have received information on the legal basis for and purpose of the processing of personal data beforehand. If the data subjects have not received such information, the employer’s right to process their data is limited. However, if the employer has reasonable grounds to believe that trade secrets or similar has been copied and stolen, no such requirements would typically apply.
Investigations into an employee's possessions may, under certain circumstances, also be carried out by the Swedish authorities.
09. What additional considerations apply when the investigation involves whistleblowing?
09. What additional considerations apply when the investigation involves whistleblowing?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The provisions of the Whistleblowing Directive must be respected. In Austria, these have been implemented through the Whistleblower Protection Act (HSchG). If the whistleblower or the persons concerned fall within the scope of the Directive, their identity must be protected. Only authorised persons may access the report. Retaliatory measures are invalid or must be reversed. Within a maximum of seven days, the whistleblower must receive a confirmation of his or her complaint. Feedback to the whistleblower must then be provided within a maximum of three months.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
In respect of data protection, the processing of personal data in whistleblowing systems is considered by the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman (DPO) as requiring a data protection impact assessment (DPIA).
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The treatment of whistleblowers and their reports is laid down in various specific laws in Portugal.
Law 93/2021
Under Law 93/2021, a whistleblower of work-related offences must not be retaliated against. Furthermore, imposing disciplinary penalties on the whistleblower within two years after their disclosure is presumed to be abusive. The whistleblower is entitled to judicial protection and may benefit from the witness protection programme within criminal proceedings. Additionally, reports will be recorded for five years and, where applicable, personal data that is not relevant for the handling of a specific report will not be collected or, if accidentally collected, will be deleted immediately.
Corruption and Financial Crime Law (Law 19/2008)
Under Law 19/2008, a whistleblower must not be hampered. Furthermore, the imposition of disciplinary penalties on a whistleblower within one year following the communication of the infraction is presumed to be unfair.
Additionally, whistleblowers are entitled to:
- anonymity until the pressing of charges;
- be transferred following the pressing of charges; and
- benefit from the witness protection programme within criminal proceedings (remaining anonymous upon the verification of specific circumstances).
Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law (Law 83/2017)
Law 83/2017, which sets forth the legal framework to prevent, detect and effectively combat money laundering and terrorism financing, applies to financial entities and legal or natural persons acting in the exercise of their professional activities (eg, auditors and lawyers)(collectively, obliged entities).
According to article 20 of Law 83/2017, individuals who learn of any breach through their professional duties must report those breaches to the company's supervisory or management bodies. As a result, the obliged entities must refrain from threatening or taking hostile action against the whistleblower and, in particular, unfair treatment within the workplace. Specifically, the report cannot be used as grounds for disciplinary, civil or criminal action against the whistleblower (unless the communication is deliberately and clearly unjustified).
Legal Framework of Credit Institutions and Financial Companies (RGICSF)
Credit institutions must implement internal-reporting mechanisms that must guarantee the confidentiality of the information received and the protection of the personal data of the persons reporting the breaches and the persons charged. Under article 116-AA of RGICSF, persons who, while working in a credit institution, become aware of:
- any serious irregularities in the management, accounting procedures or internal control of the credit institution; or
- evidence of a breach of the duties set out in the RGICSF that may cause any financial imbalance, must communicate those circumstances to the company's supervisory body.
These communications cannot, per se, be used as grounds for disciplinary, criminal or civil liability actions brought by the credit institution against the whistleblower.
Moreover, article 116-AB of the RGICSF establishes that any person aware of compelling evidence of a breach of statutory duties may report it to the Bank of Portugal. Such communications cannot, per se, be used as grounds for disciplinary, criminal or civil liability actions brought by the credit institution against the whistleblower, unless the report is clearly unfounded.
The Bank of Portugal must ensure adequate protection of the person who has reported the breach and the person accused of breaching the applicable duties. It must also guarantee the confidentiality of the persons who have reported breaches at any given time.
Portuguese Securities Code (CVM)
Article 382 of the CVM states that financial intermediaries subject to the supervision of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), judicial authorities, police authorities, or respective employees must immediately inform the CMVM if they become aware of facts that qualify as crimes against the securities market or the market of other financial instruments, due to their performance, activity, or position.
Additionally, according to article 368-A of the CVM, any person aware of facts, evidence, or information regarding administrative offences under the CVM or its supplementary regulations may report them to the CMVM either anonymously or with the whistleblower's identity. The disclosure of the whistleblower's identity, as well as that of their employer, is optional. If the report identifies the whistleblower, their identity cannot be disclosed unless specifically authorised by the whistleblower, by an express provision of law or by the determination of a court.
Such communications may not be used as grounds for disciplinary, criminal, or civil liability action brought against the whistleblower, and they may not be used to demote the employee.
According to article 368-E of the CVM, the CMVM must cooperate with other authorities within the scope of administrative or judicial proceedings to protect employees against employer discrimination, retaliation or any other form of unfair treatment by the employer that may be linked to the communication to the CMVM. The whistleblower may be entitled to benefit from the witness-protection programme if an individual is charged in criminal or administrative proceedings because of their communication to the CMVM.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act governs the investigation, additional considerations apply relating to who may investigate a reported irregularity (see question 4) and the duty of confidentiality and restrictions on access to and disclosure of personal data in investigations (see questions 6, 10 and 11), as well as the rights and protections of whistleblowers.
As regards the rights and protections of whistleblowers, the following can be noted. A person reporting in a reporting channel governed by the Swedish Whistleblowing Act is protected against retaliation and restrictive measures. Thus, companies are prohibited from preventing or trying to prevent a person from reporting, and retaliating against a person who reports. Furthermore, a reporting person will not be held liable for breach of confidentiality for collecting the reported information if the person had reasonable grounds to believe that it was necessary to submit the report to expose irregularities. Under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, any person reporting irregularities in a reporting channel established under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act may also report irregularities to designated Swedish authorities.
10. What confidentiality obligations apply during an investigation?
10. What confidentiality obligations apply during an investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
If the report and the whistleblower fall within the scope of the Whistleblowing Directive, his or her identity must be protected. From a data protection perspective, the principles of the DSG must be observed to protect the legitimate confidentiality of the individuals concerned.
Furthermore, the employer should ensure that information is only disclosed to trustworthy persons to avoid pre-judgements.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Concerning a workplace investigation, there is no specific legislation in force at the moment regarding confidentiality obligations. All normal legal confidentiality obligations (eg, obligations outlined in the Trade Secrets Act (595/2018)), and if using an external investigator, the confidentiality obligations outlined in the agreement between the employer and the external investigator, apply. Attorneys-at-law always have strict confidentiality obligations as per the Advocates Act (496/1958).
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The Portuguese Labour Code does not specifically provide for any confidentiality obligations concerning disciplinary procedures. On the contrary, it states that the employee should have access to any information included in the disciplinary procedure. Otherwise, the employee’s defence rights could be jeopardised, which would make the disciplinary procedure (and possible disciplinary sanctions) null and void.
As for the witnesses, even though there is no specific provision on confidentiality, employees are generally bound by a duty of loyalty vis-a-vis the employer, which includes not disclosing information that should be kept reserved,
However, in the cases of whistleblowing, it is mandatory to ensure the confidentiality of the complainant, as per question 9.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act applies, the persons or entities handling the investigation have a duty of confidentiality and may not, without permission, disclose any information that could reveal the identity of the reporting person, any person subject to the report or any other person mentioned in the report or during the investigation of the report. Access to personal data is limited to designated competent entities or persons. Investigative material including personal data may not be shared with other persons or entities during the investigation. Once the investigation has reached actionable conclusions, investigative material may be shared with other persons or entities, such as HR or the police, provided that such sharing is necessary to take action on the outcome of the investigation. Investigative material may also be shared if it is necessary for the use of reports as evidence in legal proceedings or under the law or other regulations.
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act does not apply, there are no particular confidentiality obligations for employers. Yet, an employer needs to consider what information is suitable to share during an investigation, how this is done and to whom it is shared. An employer must also respect employees’ privacy in line with what is generally considered good practice in the labour market. This means that an employer should be careful as to what sensitive and personal information is shared during an investigation. Furthermore, the spreading of damaging information (even if true) about an employee to a wider group may be a criminal offence under the Swedish Criminal Code.
11. What information must the employee under investigation be given about the allegations against them?
11. What information must the employee under investigation be given about the allegations against them?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The purpose of internal investigations would be jeopardised by fully informing a suspected employee beforehand, as it would allow him or her to hide or destroy possible evidence, plan his testimony or coordinate with other employees.
There is no legal requirement to inform the employee of the allegations or suspicions.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The process must be transparent and impartial, and therefore all the information that may influence the conclusions made during the investigation should be shared with the employee.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
If, before taking disciplinary action, the employer decides to open a preliminary investigation phase, the employee does not have to be informed.
Only when the preliminary investigation leads to a formal accusation will the employee be entitled to know that enquiries were carried out and the source of the facts (eg, witnesses, documents).
However, if an employer does not need to open a formal preliminary investigation phase, it only has to serve the accusation notice to the employee.
As a rule, employees will only know that they are being investigated if they are suspended or when they are notified of the accusation.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
According to article 14 of the GDPR, no information must be provided. The exemption in article 14.5(b) applies to the extent the obligation to provide such information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the objectives of the processing of the personal data of the employee under investigation (ie, to diligently investigate the suspected irregularity).
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act applies, information about where the personal data processed originates from may not be provided under article 14 of the GDPR, as the personal data must remain confidential subject to obligations under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act.
In addition to the above, an investigation should, to the extent possible and suitable, be characterised by the principles in ECHR (particularly articles 6 and 8). The employee under investigation should, among other things, be presented with sufficient information to safeguard his or her interests and be allowed to respond to the allegations. The investigation must also be compliant with the work environment responsibilities that the employer has concerning the involved parties (see questions 17 and 20).
12. Can the identity of the complainant, witnesses or sources of information for the investigation be kept confidential?
12. Can the identity of the complainant, witnesses or sources of information for the investigation be kept confidential?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
When dealing with reports and persons covered by the HSchG, the provisions on identity protection must be followed. In all internal investigations, only authorised persons should receive information.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
See question 11, there is no protection of anonymity as the process must be transparent to the parties involved.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
An employee served a notice of accusation is entitled to assess all information that was gathered within the scope of the investigation and disciplinary procedure (notably the identity of the complainant, witnesses heard, other sources of information, etc), otherwise his right of defence may be jeopardised.
Where a preliminary investigation does not lead to an accusation against the employee, no disclosure has to be made by the employer.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act applies, their identity must be kept confidential under the duty of confidentiality. If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act does not apply, their identity can to a large extent be kept confidential.
It can also be noted that a workplace investigation carried out in the public sector will often (eventually) become an official document, which means that the document can be requested by the public. There are, however, provisions on secrecy that may restrict the right to gain access to official documents. These provisions are found in the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400).
13. Can non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) be used to keep the fact and substance of an investigation confidential?
13. Can non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) be used to keep the fact and substance of an investigation confidential?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
According to section 6(1) of the DSG, employees who have access to personal data in the course of their professional activities must maintain data confidentiality and continue to do so even after termination of their employment.
Non-disclosure agreements can generally be used to achieve this but are subject to certain restrictions. They may not be used to conceal criminal activity, violate the privacy rights of individuals, circumvent legal disclosure obligations, prevent the exercise of legal rights or contain clauses that violate existing laws, in particular data protection regulations.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Yes, however, the need for an NDA is assessed always on a case-by-case basis.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Please see question 12 above. NDAs are not admissible.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
NDAs can be used for some investigations carried out in the private sector. However, under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, a contract is void to the extent it retracts or restricts a person’s rights under the Swedish Whistleblowing Act. An NDA that restricts the right to report irregularities to authorities or the media would, therefore, typically be void.
14. When does privilege attach to investigation materials?
14. When does privilege attach to investigation materials?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
If a lawyer is involved in the investigation, communication between the lawyer and client is subject to legal professional privilege. These communications must not be disclosed. Any documents collected by an internal audit can be seized and used. However, a document created by a lawyer can only be seized. The same applies to other professional representatives of parties, such as notaries and auditors, as potential holders of professional secrecy.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The privilege of investigation materials concerns a rather limited amount of cases. In practice, materials may be considered privileged in connection with the litigation process under the Procedural Code (4/1734). For example, communications between a client and an attorney may attract protection against forcible public disclosure.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
If any sources of information used within an investigation include privileged data, they may be redacted to safeguard third parties' rights. However, where disclosure of that data is necessary for the employee to understand why he or she is being accused, it may be necessary to reveal those elements. Otherwise, the employee may argue that their rights were affected and, for that reason, the disciplinary procedure – and any possible sanction – should be deemed null and void.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Attorney-client privilege will apply to all communication and investigative material between a client and its law firm. Attorney-client privilege is, however, not without limitations. Regarding investigations into alleged employee misconduct, a law firm may have to report suspected money laundering to the authorities and under certain circumstances disclose information to the financial police.
Written material covered by attorney-client privilege generally may not be seized.
15. Does the employee under investigation have a right to be accompanied or have legal representation during the investigation?
15. Does the employee under investigation have a right to be accompanied or have legal representation during the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
In general, an employee is not entitled to have a representative present during investigations. However, he is free to reach out to the works council or independently contact a lawyer for advice. The employer must hear the works council upon his or her request on all matters concerning the interests of employees at the company. Once disciplinary proceedings begin, the employee has the right to be represented by a lawyer.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The employee under investigation has a right to have a support person present (eg, a lawyer or an employee representative) during the hearings and a right to assistance in preparing written statements.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Under the Portuguese Bar Association statutes, the assistance of a lawyer is allowed at all times and cannot be prevented by any jurisdiction or authority, public or private entity.
Nevertheless, the law does not provide any obligation to inform the employee that they are entitled to the assistance of a lawyer.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
The employee has no right to bring legal representation. However, the outcome of an investigation may lead to employment-related consequences, so it may be appropriate (depending on the situation) to offer the employee the opportunity to bring a union representative (if the employee is unionised) or a legal representative.
16. If there is a works council or trade union, does it have any right to be informed or involved in the investigation?
16. If there is a works council or trade union, does it have any right to be informed or involved in the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The Austrian Labour Constitution Act (ArbVG) does not contain any provisions regarding workplace investigations. The employee has the right to address the works council but is not entitled to have the works council comply with his or her request.
The works council's opportunities for participation are conclusively regulated. Certain investigative or control measures may require the consent or co-determination of the works council.
Under section 96(1)3 ArbVG, the consent of the works council is required if the employer wishes to introduce and maintain control measures or technical systems for monitoring employees that affect human dignity, such as video surveillance or specific staff questionnaires. If there is no works council, the consent of each individual employee is required.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
A works council or a trade union does not have a role in the investigation.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Employee representative bodies are not entitled to be informed about or to participate in the preliminary investigation. The works council is only entitled to participate in disciplinary proceedings after a formal accusation has been made against the employee.
A copy of the accusation should be sent to the works council (if any) and if the employee is a trade union member, to the respective trade union. After the instruction phase of the procedure has ended (where the employer has to hear the witnesses identified by the employee in his written defence and file any other sources of information that have been requested), the employer should provide a copy of the disciplinary procedure to the works council (if any) and the respective trade union, if the employee is a member. These employees’ representatives will then have five business days to issue their opinion on the matter.
Finally, a copy of the final decision must also be sent to these bodies.
There is no legal right for the interviewee to be assisted by a representative from the works council.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
No, but if the employee under investigation is unionised it is appropriate to inform the union about the investigation. If the employer chooses to take action against the employee during, or after, the investigation, the trade union generally needs to be consulted before any final decisions are made.
If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act applies, the employer is not authorised to inform a works council or trade union about the investigation, as it may be in violation of the duty of confidentiality (see question 10).
17. What other support can employees involved in the investigation be given?
17. What other support can employees involved in the investigation be given?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
There is no additional support for the employees concerned. However, the employer may offer support measures to the employees to ensure better cooperation. The choice of support measures is at the employer's discretion. For example, the employer could offer to bear lawyer’s fees, if the employee is cooperative. Such decisions must always be made on a case-by-case basis.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
They can request assistance, for example, from an occupational health and safety representative, a shop steward or the occupational healthcare provider.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Employees are usually assisted by lawyers when they are subject to an investigation or disciplinary procedure.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
The employer is responsible for the work environment and must ensure that employees are not at risk of mental (or physical) illness due to an investigation. If an employee, in connection with an investigation, requires support or if risk of ill health is otherwise anticipated, the employer is obliged to assess the situation and provide said employee with sufficient support (eg, counselling or work adjustments).
19. What if the employee under investigation raises a grievance during the investigation?
19. What if the employee under investigation raises a grievance during the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
Provided the employer complies with labour law and data protection regulations, internal investigations are lawful and are not regarded as administrative or judicial proceedings. If legal consequences for not cooperating, such as dismissal, are threatened by the employer or his investigators, the offence of coercion under section 105 of the Austrian Criminal Code could be fulfilled.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
If the nature of the grievance relates to the employer's obligations to handle such matters in general, the grievance will be investigated either separately or as a part of the ongoing investigation.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Grievance procedures are not specifically provided for under Portuguese law. There is no formal procedure for an employee to raise a complaint against the employer. Nonetheless, a potential claim brought by the employee under investigation and subject to a disciplinary procedure should not have any impact.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
There are no formal rules or processes for handling grievances in Sweden. Depending on the nature of the grievance, such a complaint may also have to be investigated (unless the grievance is deemed to be trivial). This could, for example, be the case if the grievance concerns new or other work environment issues that the employer is obliged to investigate.
20. What if the employee under investigation goes off sick during the investigation?
20. What if the employee under investigation goes off sick during the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The involved employee's sick leave does not affect the internal investigation. Most investigative measures can be carried out without the employee's presence.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
As a general rule, sick leave does not prevent an investigation from progressing. Depending on the nature of the sickness, the employee can attend hearings and take part in the procedure. If the sickness prevents the employee from participating, the employer can put the process on hold temporarily.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The employer will be able to proceed with the investigation or disciplinary procedure regardless, although if it is necessary to hear the employee and they are unable to attend the interview, either the employer waits for their return or it could also send a written questionnaire for the employee to complete.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
The employer is responsible for the employee’s work environment during the investigation. The employer must assess the situation and the impact on the employee’s health and may, depending on the situation, have to postpone certain investigative measures, such as interviewing the employee in question. The investigation may even have to be completed without the employee participating.
21. How do you handle a parallel criminal and/or regulatory investigation?
21. How do you handle a parallel criminal and/or regulatory investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
Private investigations differ from criminal or regulatory investigations. Nevertheless, even for internal investigations, it is advisable to collect evidence in a way that can be admitted in court, as it may have to be presented to the authorities during the investigation process. Generally, any evidence obtained in the course of an internal investigation may be admitted in subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings.
If the evidence is not voluntarily surrendered, seizure or confiscation is possible. Since official proceedings are often lengthy, suspension is not always recommended.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Regardless of a possible criminal investigation, the employer must run its internal workplace investigation without unnecessary delay. A workplace investigation and a criminal investigation are two separate processes and can be ongoing simultaneously, so the criminal process does not require the workplace investigation to be stayed. Thus, parallel investigations are to be considered as two separate matters. The police may only obtain evidence or material from the company or employer if strict requirements for equipment searches are met after a request for investigation has been submitted to the police.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
These procedures are independent and autonomous, and the law does not provide any particular rules to ensure coordination. This raises particular concerns when an employee is subject to a criminal investigation in secret, as the employer will be unable to access any evidence from the criminal procedure to begin an internal investigation or disciplinary procedure against the employee.
On the other hand, considering the short statutes of limitation to enforce disciplinary action, it may prove impossible to wait for the outcome of the criminal or regulatory investigation to decide if a disciplinary procedure should also be enforced, because by the time the employer is fully aware of the facts, the statutes of limitation may have already expired.
However, both the judge in a criminal procedure and the regulator have the public authority to order the employer to share any findings within the scope of the investigation or disciplinary procedure.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Handling a parallel investigation will have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on the applicable rules. For instance, an investigation under the Swedish Discrimination Act is subject to certain timing requirements with which the employer must comply. In other cases, it may be more appropriate to hold off the workplace investigation while awaiting the outcome of the parallel investigation.
The police or regulator can, depending on the matter at hand, request an employer to share evidence. The police or the regulator may also, under certain circumstances, retain evidence in a search.
22. What must the employee under investigation be told about the outcome of an investigation?
22. What must the employee under investigation be told about the outcome of an investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The employee has no general right to be informed of the results of an investigation. However, if the employer is considering consequences under labour law based on the result of the investigation, such as termination or dismissal, the employee must be informed accordingly.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The employer's conclusions from the investigation.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
If, further to the conclusion of the investigation, the employer concludes that there are no grounds to enforce disciplinary action against the employee, the employee does not even have to know that they were the subject of an investigation.
However, if the employer does decide to accuse the employee, the employee will be entitled to all the sources of information obtained during the preliminary investigation.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
This depends on the outcome of the investigation and the applicable rules.
If the outcome of the investigation leads to termination, the employer will have to disclose some information regarding the reason for termination. If the employee questions the termination, the employer may have to disclose more information in a subsequent dispute. If the outcome of the investigation leads to less invasive measures, such as a warning, there are less extensive requirements to provide information.
24. What next steps are available to the employer?
24. What next steps are available to the employer?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
The employer may impose consequences under labour law. Consequences may include verbal or written warnings, transfers or other disciplinary measures. The employer may also implement training or educational measures if the issue is due to the employee's lack of knowledge. In serious cases, besides dismissal without notice – for example. if the employer seeks damages –legal action (civil or criminal) may be taken against the employee.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
The employer decides whether misconduct has taken place or not. Depending on the case, the employer may recommend a workplace conciliation in which the parties try to find a solution that can be accepted by both sides. The employer may choose to give an oral reprimand or a written warning. If the legal conditions are met, the employer may also terminate the employment agreement.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
Once the preliminary investigation ends, the employer must decide whether or not, in its view, there are grounds to bring an accusation against the employee and enforce disciplinary action or if it should be dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
When the employer decides to enforce disciplinary action, the following sanctions may be applied:
- verbal warning;
- written warning;
- financial penalty;
- loss of holiday;
- suspension with loss of pay and length of service;
- dismissal with cause and without compensation.
The first five penalties are usually called conservatory sanctions, enabling the continuity of the employment relationship, as opposed to dismissal, which is deemed a measure of last resort.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
An investigation may result in employment law measures (eg, support, training, relocation, warning, termination or dismissal). An investigation may also be inconclusive and not result in any action.
25. Who can (or must) the investigation findings be disclosed to? Does that include regulators/police? Can the interview records be kept private, or are they at risk of disclosure?
25. Who can (or must) the investigation findings be disclosed to? Does that include regulators/police? Can the interview records be kept private, or are they at risk of disclosure?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
It is up to management to decide which results should be disclosed and to whom. It is important to know who the persons concerned are and who has an interest in disclosure.
From a legal perspective, disclosure must follow the GDPR. Internal policies can specify how the results are to be handled. Works Council Agreements (WCAs) may also contain regulations on how to deal with internal investigations and the disclosure of results.
There is no requirement to publish the results of the investigation, but it may be advisable to cooperate with the authorities. This is particularly the case if the employer has suffered damage or is himself threatened with prosecution. The release of investigation results can be compelled through the courts.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
In general, investigation materials, including findings, that includes personal data should only be processed by the personnel of the organisation who are responsible for internal investigations. However, it may in some situations be required by applicable legislation that findings are disclosed to competent authorities for the performance of their duties, such as conducting investigations in connection with malpractice and violations of the law.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
The investigation findings must be disclosed to the employee when an accusation is brought against him or her and to the works council (if any) or trade union, if the employee is a member.
Regulators or police authorities may also notify the employer if any investigations were brought against a particular employee (as regards regulators, this could occur within the scope of fit and proper procedures), in which case the employer must cooperate and disclose any investigation findings.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Findings may have to be handed over to the police or the regulator – there is no separate legal protection for material in employer investigations related to authorities. If the investigation has been carried out by a law firm, see question 14 on attorney-client privilege.
26. How long should the outcome of the investigation remain on the employee’s record?
26. How long should the outcome of the investigation remain on the employee’s record?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
Data protection law requires that personal data should not be kept longer than necessary for the purpose it was collected. Once the purpose of the internal investigation is fulfilled and the data is no longer needed, it should be deleted or anonymised. Regulations regarding this matter may also be subject to WCAs or internal policies. In any case, it is advisable to keep the results for as long as they may be needed in possible subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
Please see question 7. The outcome of the investigation involving personal data may be retained only for as long as is necessary considering the purposes of the processing. In general, the retention of investigation-related data may be necessary while the investigation is still ongoing and even then the requirements of data minimization and accuracy should be considered. The data concerning the outcome of an investigation should be registered to the employee's record merely to the extent necessary in light of the employment relationship or potential disciplinary measures. In this respect, the applicable retention time depends on labour law-related rights and limitations, considering eg, the applicable periods for filing a suit.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
There are no specific rules in the Portuguese Labour Code on this matter.
However, article 332 of the PLC states that the employer should keep an updated record of disciplinary sanctions, so the competent authorities can easily verify compliance with applicable provisions. Accordingly, it is advisable to maintain a record of disciplinary sanctions during the entire employment relationship.
Also, please note that some collective bargaining agreements state that the disciplinary register must be deleted from the employee’s record periodically.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Under the GDPR personal data may not, according to the general principle on storage limitation, be retained for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed. The GDPR does not stipulate a generally applicable storage limitation period. Such a regulation is, on the other hand, included in the Swedish Whistleblowing Act. If the Swedish Whistleblowing Act applies, the outcome of the investigation and all personal data should be retained for as long as necessary, but not for longer than two years after the investigation has been closed.
27. What legal exposure could the employer face for errors during the investigation?
27. What legal exposure could the employer face for errors during the investigation?
Austria
Austria
- at GERLACH
- at GERLACH Rechtsanwälte
This relates to the severity of the error. Data protection violations can lead to fines by the data protection authority or claims for damages. If consequences under labour law, such as dismissal, have taken place due to erroneous investigations or incorrect results, the employee concerned can assert claims under labour law or seek damages.
Furthermore, there may be consequences under criminal law. This is particularly the case if documents have been falsified in the course of the investigation. It is, therefore, crucial that employers exercise diligence and due process in internal investigations. Investigations must be conducted transparently and lawfully.
Finland
Finland
- at Roschier
- at Roschier
There are no regulations regarding the actual investigation process. Therefore, the employer cannot be accused of procedural errors as such. However, once the matter has been adequately investigated, the employer must decide whether or not misconduct has taken place. If the employer considers that misconduct has taken place, the employer must take adequate measures for remedying the situation. Failure to adequately conduct the investigation could result in criminal sanctions being imposed on the employer as an organisation or the employer’s representative, or damages.
Portugal
Portugal
- at Uría Menéndez - Proença de Carvalho
If the disciplinary procedure recommends an employee's dismissal
Should a company dismiss an employee that has breached legal requirements, the latter may take action against the company within 60 days of the date of termination of their employment agreement.
If this action results in a ruling of unfair dismissal, the employee will be entitled:
- to receive all the payments they should normally have earned (back pay, including salary, holidays, legal subsidies, etc), from the month preceding the commencement of the lawsuit and until the final ruling of the court, minus any amounts they may have received during the same period and they would otherwise not have received; and
- to be reinstated in their former position or at the employee’s choice, to receive an indemnity that the court will calculate as between 15 and 45 days of base salary (and service bonuses) for each full year of service or fraction thereof, with a minimum limit of three months’ compensation.
This graduation will depend on the amount of the base salary (the lower the base salary, the higher the indemnity) and the severity of the company’s conduct. Additionally, the employee is entitled to claim an indemnity for further damages.
There are, however, two exceptions to the above: the first relates to high-ranking employees (ie employees carrying out management duties); the second refers to micro-companies (ie, a company that registered an average number of employees in the preceding calendar year below 10). In these two cases, the employer may oppose the employee’s option for reinstatement, arguing that it would be gravely harmful to the company's activity. From a practical perspective, opposition to reinstatement is not commonly decided by the courts.
Finally, should the court rule that the grounds for dismissal were valid, but the investigation was found to have been irregular, the dismissal will be deemed valid, but the employee will still be entitled to an indemnity of 7.5 to 22.5 days of base salary (plus service bonuses, if any) per year of service.
If the disciplinary procedure does not recommend dismissal, but the application of a conservatory sanction
In this event, the employee can challenge the application of the sanction through the filing of a lawsuit against the company. Although the law is not entirely clear, there are court rulings stating that the employee has one year to bring a lawsuit, but others consider that the statute of limitation to challenge a conservatory disciplinary sanction is also one year from the termination of the employment agreement when a pecuniary penalty or suspension was applied to the employee.
Moreover, according to article 331(3) of the Portuguese Labour Code, the employer who applies an unjustified conservatory penalty should compensate the worker under the terms set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 of said article. The imposition of an abusive penalty is also considered a very serious administrative offence as per article 331(7). Please note that the Portuguese Labour Code considers a penalty to be unjustified if its imposition is motivated by the following:
- the employee lawfully complaining about their labour conditions;
- the employee lawfully disobeying unlawful orders from a superior;
- the employee being a member of any employee representative structure or having been a candidate for such a position; and
- the employee exercising or invoking their rights and guarantees.
Furthermore, any penalty imposed within six months of any instance listed above (or within one year if the invoked rights are related to equality and non-discrimination) is presumed to be abusive.
Sweden
Sweden
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
- at Mannheimer Swartling
Errors resulting in terminations can be unlawful and, if they lead to employees terminating their employment as a result of the employer’s missteps, could be seen as constructive dismissal. Constructive dismissal is generally equivalent to an unlawful dismissal. Unlawful terminations generally result in an obligation to pay financial and general damages to the affected employees.
Failure to fulfil the obligations under the Swedish Discrimination Act may lead to an obligation to pay financial and general damages.
If an employer does not fulfil its obligations according to work environment legislation, there is a risk that the Swedish Work Environment Authority will issue injunctions or prohibitions against the employer. If an employer omits to meet its work environment related obligations, and that in turn results in a work related accident, e.g. self-harm in connection with an internal investigation, it may also, in a worst case scenario, lead to criminal liability.
The Swedish Work Environment Authority is also responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the Swedish Whistleblowing Act. The Swedish Work Environment Authority may, if necessary to ensure compliance with the Swedish Whistleblowing Act, order an operator to comply with the obligations and requirements of the Swedish Whistleblowing Act. Employers violating the Swedish Whistleblowing Act may also be liable to pay damages to the affected employees.
If personal data is processed in a way that violates the GDPR, the authorised supervisory authority may issue warnings or reprimands to the data controller, order the controller to comply with the GDPR, impose a ban on processing, or impose an administrative fine on the controller. Companies violating the GDPR may also be liable to pay damages to data subjects.