Workplace bullying can severely impact employee wellbeing, productivity, and your company’s reputation. When allegations arise in Mildura workplaces, how you respond makes all the difference. Professional, independent investigations not only address immediate concerns but also protect your organization from potential legal complications and ongoing workplace disruption. Jolasers Investigations provides specialized Mildura workplace investigation services that ensure fairness, discretion, and thorough resolution.
Why Professional Workplace Bullying Investigations Matter in Mildura
Workplace bullying claims require immediate, professional attention. In Mildura’s close-knit business community, allegations can quickly affect workplace dynamics and potentially damage your company’s standing. The Fair Work Act provides employees with specific protections against workplace bullying, making proper investigation procedures essential for legal compliance.
When bullying complaints arise, employers have a duty to investigate promptly and thoroughly. However, internal investigations often face challenges that can undermine their effectiveness and credibility.
“We have a long history of conducting workplace investigations where all persons involved believed they were treated fairly and with respect. This is important in limiting the damage to relationships in the workplace as much as possible.”
Professional investigators bring objectivity and specialized expertise to the process, ensuring all parties feel heard while maintaining procedural fairness. This approach helps preserve workplace relationships even during difficult circumstances.
The Industry Secret About Workplace Bullying Investigations
Here is a dirty little industry secret! Companies will often engage a law firm to conduct their workplace investigation, who have a high hourly rate, and the law firm then engages a workplace investigations company like Jolasers Investigations to undertake the investigation, who have a lower hourly rate.
Why not engage Jolasers Investigations at the lower hourly rate, and if you need a legal opinion, engage a law firm with their higher hourly rate for 2 hours, rather than the 15 – 25 hours of the investigation? This approach can save your organization thousands of dollars while still ensuring you receive both professional investigation services and legal guidance when needed.
Save on Your Workplace Investigation Costs
Contact Jolasers Investigations directly to discuss your Mildura workplace bullying investigation needs and learn how our approach can save you money while delivering professional results.
The Risks of Internal Workplace Bullying Investigations
When organizations attempt to handle workplace bullying investigations internally, they often encounter significant challenges that can compromise the process and outcomes. Even with the best intentions, internal investigations face inherent limitations:
Perception of Bias
When investigations are conducted by internal staff, there’s an inherent risk that one or both parties may perceive the process as biased. This perception alone can undermine the investigation’s credibility, regardless of how fairly it was actually conducted.
In Mildura’s business community, where professional relationships often overlap with personal ones, maintaining true impartiality can be especially challenging. Employees may question whether the investigator has pre-existing relationships with involved parties that could influence their judgment.
Limited Expertise
Workplace bullying investigations require specialized knowledge of relevant legislation, interview techniques, evidence gathering, and procedural fairness. Most HR professionals or managers, while skilled in their areas, lack the specific training and experience needed to conduct complex investigations that will withstand potential legal scrutiny.
Without proper expertise, internal investigators may miss critical evidence, fail to ask the right questions, or inadvertently compromise the investigation’s integrity through procedural errors.
Increased Legal Risk
Flawed investigations can expose your organization to significant legal liability. If an aggrieved party believes the investigation was conducted unfairly, they may pursue external complaints through the Fair Work Commission, WorkSafe Victoria, or other legal channels. These external proceedings often scrutinize not just the bullying allegations themselves but also how the investigation was conducted.
Eliminate Risk of Bias with External Expertise
Engage Jolasers Investigations to conduct your Mildura workplace bullying investigation with complete impartiality and professional expertise.
Benefits of Choosing Jolasers Investigations for Workplace Bullying Cases
Complete Impartiality
As external investigators, we have no pre-existing relationships with your staff or stake in the outcome. This ensures all parties receive fair treatment and eliminates perceptions of bias that often plague internal investigations.
Specialized Expertise
Our investigators are specifically trained in workplace bullying investigations, with comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation, interview techniques, evidence gathering, and procedural requirements.
Legal Compliance
We ensure your investigation meets all legal requirements under the Fair Work Act, Work Health and Safety legislation, and other relevant regulations, protecting your organization from potential legal challenges.
“We believe that we can quickly build rapport with all persons involved and make the process as easy as possible for all persons involved. People are generally nervous when faced with a workplace investigation interview, and we try and make the process as pain free for all participants as possible, at the same time ensuring we obtain detailed and accurate information.”
Comprehensive Workplace Investigation Services
At Jolasers Investigations, we provide a range of specialized workplace investigation services to address various workplace issues. Our professional approach ensures all matters are handled with the appropriate expertise, sensitivity, and procedural fairness.
| Investigation Type | Description | Learn More |
| Harassment investigation | Thorough investigation of workplace harassment claims, including verbal, physical, or psychological harassment that creates a hostile work environment. | Harassment Investigations |
| Sexual harassment investigation | Specialized investigations into allegations of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace. | Sexual Harassment Investigations |
| Misconduct investigation | Professional investigation of employee misconduct allegations, including policy violations, inappropriate behavior, conflicts of interest, and other workplace infractions. | Misconduct Investigations |
| HR Investigation | Broad-scope investigations into various workplace policy violations, performance issues, or compliance concerns. | HR Investigations |
Each investigation is conducted with the same level of professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to fairness that defines our approach at Jolasers Investigations.
Our Mildura Workplace Bullying Investigation Process
- Initial Consultation: We begin with a detailed discussion about the allegations, gathering preliminary information and developing an investigation plan tailored to your specific situation.
- Evidence Collection: Our investigators gather relevant documentation, communications, and other evidence related to the bullying allegations, ensuring all potential evidence is properly preserved.
- Structured Interviews: We conduct thorough interviews with the complainant, respondent, and witnesses, using specialized techniques to obtain detailed and accurate information while ensuring all parties feel heard and respected.
- Evidence Analysis: Our team carefully analyzes all collected evidence, identifying patterns, inconsistencies, and corroborating information to form objective findings.
- Comprehensive Reporting: We provide a detailed investigation report outlining the allegations, methodology, evidence, findings, and recommendations, giving you a clear basis for appropriate action.
- Follow-up Support: If requested, we can provide guidance on implementing recommendations, communicating outcomes, and developing strategies to prevent future incidents.
Important: If you have received a workplace bullying complaint, you need to act fast. These types of issues tend to quickly escalate and can be costly, especially if a person is suspended on full pay as a result of the complaint. Prompt, professional investigation is essential to resolve the matter efficiently.
Don’t Delay – Address Workplace Bullying Promptly
Contact Jolasers Investigations today to initiate a professional workplace bullying investigation in Mildura.
Legal Framework for Workplace Bullying in Australia
Understanding the legal framework surrounding workplace bullying is essential for employers. In Australia, workplace bullying is addressed through multiple legislative avenues that create significant obligations for employers.
Work Health and Safety Legislation
Under Work Health and Safety legislation, employers have a primary duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers. This includes managing the risk of workplace bullying as a recognized psychological hazard.
Fair Work Act
The Fair Work Act 2009 provides workers with the right to apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order to stop workplace bullying. Under this legislation, workplace bullying occurs when a person or group of people repeatedly behaves unreasonably toward a worker, creating a risk to health and safety.
Recent Legal Developments
Recent prosecutions have highlighted the serious consequences of failing to address workplace bullying. For example, in a recent case in Victoria, both a company and its director were convicted and fined for breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act related to workplace bullying of a subcontractor. The prosecution specifically cited inadequate anti-bullying policies and procedures as contributing factors.
For more information about workplace bullying regulations and employer obligations, visit the Fair Work Commission’s bullying and harassment resources.
Contact Jolasers Investigations for Your Mildura Workplace Bullying Investigation
If you’re dealing with workplace bullying allegations in Mildura, don’t delay in seeking professional assistance. Prompt, expert investigation is essential to address the situation effectively, protect your employees, and minimize potential legal and operational risks.
Ready to Discuss Your Investigation Needs?
Contact us today to speak with our experienced investigators about your situation and how we can help.