In 2012, the Association of Workplace Investigators (“AWI”) released its Guiding Principles for Conducting Impartial Workplace Investigations.  The AWI is a nonprofit with a stated mission “to promote and support workplace investigations as a distinct area of expertise and to enhance the quality of workplace investigations.”  Although AWI is a relatively new organization (incorporated in 2009), it has grown quickly and today has over 350 members.  

The AWI’s Guiding Principles were developed over a two and half-year period with input from the charter members of the AWI.  They provide a general framework and guidance for conducting internal investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct such as harassment, discrimination and retaliation.  Click here for a copy of the AWI Guiding Principles.

Here are a few of the reasons I encourage employers to consider implementing the AWI Guiding Principles.

Reinforce compliance with legal requirements. Being compliant with relevant legal requirements is the absolute minimum standard that organizations must achieve. The AWI Guiding Principles reinforce compliance but also provide a rationale as to why organizations should do more than the minimum.

Support active and positive procedures to responding to allegations of workplace misconduct.  The AWI Guiding Principles provide employers with information to establish processes and practices to follow when faced with an allegation of workplace misconduct that needs to be investigated.

Contribute to a fair and equitable work environment. The AWI Guiding Principles set the stage for developing processes that are clear, known and applied consistently.

Provide tools that will build organizational effectiveness. By implementing the AWI Guiding Principles, employers make a demonstrable commitment to excellence and fairness in the workplace, a concept increasingly important research shows to employees, especially Generation Y.

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Workplace Investigations Group is headquartered in Atlanta, GA but has a national directory of professional workplace investigators who are all attorneys and have a minimum of ten years of employment litigation experience.  As such, wherever the workplace issue arises, corporate counsel and employers can easily identify an investigator who can respond to the regional need quickly, impartially and competently.   For more information:  www.Workplace-Investigations-Group.com