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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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?

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Singapore

Singapore

  • at Rajah & Tann Singapore
  • at Rajah & Tann Singapore
  • at Rajah & Tann

While there are no prescribed minimum qualifications or criteria that need to be met for any person conducting a workplace investigation, the person handling employee grievances should be someone who:

  • has been authorised and empowered to do so by the employer;
  • is not in a position of actual or potential conflict; and
  • is independent and impartial.

The grievance handler should be familiar with the organisation’s investigative procedure, have attended the relevant training to ensure full compliance with the same; and have a good understanding of the expectations and norms set out by the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices.

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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Singapore

Singapore

  • at Rajah & Tann Singapore
  • at Rajah & Tann Singapore
  • at Rajah & Tann

The employer is not allowed to search employees’ personal possessions or files as part of an investigation without the employee’s consent. However, such consent may be explicitly provided for in the terms of employment (as may be contained in the employment contract, employee handbook or the employer’s internal policies and procedures in dealing with the investigations, etc). The employer may, however, search the employees’ company email accounts and files if these are stored on the company’s internal systems or devices.

Last updated on 15/09/2022