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?

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Nigeria

Nigeria

  • at Bloomfield LP
  • The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
  • The Criminal Code Act
  • Penal Code Law
  • Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended)
  • Freedom of Information Act 2011
  • Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013
  • Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000
  • Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act
  • Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020
  • Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018
  • Economic Financial Crime Commission (Establishment) Act 2004
  • Investment Securities Act 2007
  • Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007
  • Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020
  • Whistleblowing Programme under the Ministry of Finance
Last updated on 15/09/2022

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Switzerland

  • at Bär & Karrer
  • at Bär & Karrer

There is no specific legal regulation for internal investigations in Switzerland. The legal framework is derived from general rules such as the employer's duty of care, the employee's duty of loyalty and the employee's data protection rights. Depending on the context of the investigation, additional legal provisions may apply; for instance, additional provisions of the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection or the Swiss Criminal Code.

Last updated on 15/09/2022

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?

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Nigeria

Nigeria

  • at Bloomfield LP

Yes, an employer can search the possessions or files of an employee as part of an investigation where the employee’s contract or handbook authorises such a search and there is a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.

Last updated on 15/09/2022

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Switzerland

  • at Bär & Karrer
  • at Bär & Karrer

The basic rule is that the employer may not search private data during internal investigations.

If there is a strong suspicion of criminal conduct on the part of the employee and a sufficiently strong justification exists, a search of private data may be justified.[1] The factual connection with the employment relationship is given, for example, in the case of a criminal act committed during working hours or using workplace infrastructure.[2]

 

[1] Claudia Fritsche, Interne Untersuchungen in der Schweiz: Ein Handbuch für regulierte Finanzinstitute und andere Unternehmen, Zürich/St. Gallen 2013, p. 168.

[2] Claudia Fritsche, Interne Untersuchungen in der Schweiz: Ein Handbuch für regulierte Finanzinstitute und andere Unternehmen, Zürich/St. Gallen 2013, p. 168 et seq.

Last updated on 15/09/2022