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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24. What next steps are available to the employer?

24. What next steps are available to the employer?

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France

  • at Bredin Prat
  • at Bredin Prat

The employer can decide to sanction the person who was under investigation or to close the case. The employer may also need to protect any victims, witnesses and whistleblowers. If, during the investigation, it is discovered that a supplier or other commercial partner is implicated, the relevant contract may be terminated. The employer can take legal action , file a complaint (if the company is a direct victim of a criminal offence) or report the offence to the public prosecutor’s office. The employer must archive the file or ensure its lawful preservation after a certain period.

Last updated on 15/09/2022

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Switzerland

  • at Bär & Karrer
  • at Bär & Karrer

If the investigation uncovers misconduct, the question arises as to what steps should be taken. Of course, the severity of the misconduct and the damage caused play a significant role. Furthermore, it must be noted that the cooperation of the employee concerned may be of decisive importance for the outcome of the investigation. The possibilities are numerous, ranging, for example, from preventive measures to criminal complaints.[1]

If individual disciplinary actions are necessary, these may range from warnings to ordinary or immediate termination of employment.

 

[1] David Rosenthal et al., Praxishandbuch für interne Untersuchungen und eDiscovery, Release 1.01, Zürich/Bern 2021, p. 180 et seq.

Last updated on 15/09/2022