For HR Managers and People & Culture leaders in the Murray Region, deciding whether to investigate a workplace grievance internally or outsource it requires a delicate balance. Initially, keeping matters “in-house” seems cost-effective. However, the hidden costs of investigating your own colleagues—bias accusations, time drains, and conflict of interest—often prove catastrophic.
Jolasers partners with internal HR teams across Echuca and Moama to undertake discreet, fact-finding HR investigations. We provide the independence you need to ensure procedural fairness. Consequently, this allows you to remain the neutral support person for your staff while we handle the forensic work.
The HR Dilemma: “Should I Do This Myself?”
We understand the pressure HR managers face. You possess the skills to conduct an investigation, but do you maintain the necessary distance? Investing internal resources into a complex HR investigation often fails for three specific reasons:
1. The “Colleague vs. Investigator” Conflict
Being a supportive HR Manager on Tuesday and a forensic investigator interrogating staff on Wednesday proves difficult. Furthermore, internal investigations damage the trust capital you have built with your team. By outsourcing the “interrogation” phase to Jolasers, you preserve your relationship with staff for the post-investigation recovery.
2. Inescapable Perceptions of Bias
In close-knit regional organizations, everyone has a history. If you investigate a manager you share lunch with, or an employee you recruited, the accused will inevitably challenge the findings as biased. Therefore, an external investigator eliminates this attack vector instantly.
3. Operational Paralysis
A proper compliant investigation takes 20–40 hours of interviewing, evidence analysis, and report writing. Most HR departments in Echuca already run lean. Can you afford to lose a week of productivity to handle one grievance?
When You Must Outsource an HR Investigation
You can handle minor operational issues internally. However, clients typically engage Jolasers for high-risk scenarios where independence is non-negotiable:
- Allegations Against Senior Leaders: You cannot effectively investigate the person who signs your paycheck.
- Sexual Harassment & Bullying: These matters attract high legal visibility and often end up in the Fair Work Commission.
- Cross-Departmental Conflict: When the dispute involves multiple managers or “he-said-she-said” scenarios lacking physical evidence.
- Whistleblower Complaints: Where the law requires anonymity and absolute distance from the business.
Our “Fact-Finding” Methodology
Jolasers does not offer legal advice. Instead, we offer factual certainty. Our role involves establishing exactly what happened so you (and your legal team) can make the correct employment decision.
We follow a rigid process. This design withstands external scrutiny:
- Scope Definition: We work with you to draft precise allegations that are capable of being proven or disproven.
- Evidence Gathering: We secure digital trails, rosters, and physical evidence immediately.
- Forensic Interviewing: We interview the complainant, respondent, and witnesses using non-leading questioning techniques.
- Standard of Proof: We analyze evidence on the “Balance of Probabilities” (Briginshaw principle). This ensures the weight of evidence matches the seriousness of the allegation.
- The Report: You receive a clear, decisive report linking findings to facts, ready for board review or legal counsel.
The Cost-Effective Alternative to Law Firms
HR Managers often hesitate to outsource. Usually, they fear the cost of engaging a law firm. Jolasers bridges the gap between “DIY” and “Legal Counsel.”
We undertake the time-consuming groundwork—the interviews, the transcriptions, the evidence sifting—at a rate significantly lower than a lawyer. Furthermore, if the matter proceeds to litigation, you hand your lawyer a fully prepared, evidence-backed file. This saves thousands in discovery costs.
Local to Echuca & The Murray Region
We do not operate as a remote service. We understand that effective interviewing requires reading body language and building rapport in the room. We service Echuca, Moama, and the surrounding region onsite, providing the visible independence your process requires.
Protect Your Process and Your People
Don’t risk a “botched” internal investigation. Partner with Jolasers to ensure your HR investigations are fair, factual, and final.