workplace investigation

taxi36

Just asking this quick question for my mate who is an employee. He was talking to one of his supervisors today and this supervisor happened to mention the ongoing investigation against him (my mate). My mate asked him what investigation he was on about and the supervisor casually told him that another worker in the factory had lodged a complaint about my mate and the management were now conducting an investigation.

Now this is the first my mate has heard of ANYTHING regarding this matter.

When he approached the manager and asked about this he was simply told that an investiagtion is ongoing owing to an allegation that he was rude/ignorant and bossy to this other worker who had lodged the complaint. The manager told my mate that he would be in touch when the investiagtion was complete!
Is this in keeping with workplace laws? Surely the manager should have informed my mate that there had been an allegation made? Should my mate not have been asked for his version of events? Is it ok for management to conduct an investgation with only one side of the story?

Just seems wrong to me but not being an employee myself Im not totally sure so all advice is welcome thanks

JaymesKenin_2

I'm not up on the legal side, so what I say might be wrong, however I believe:

- There has been a breach of confidentiality, which can kill the accusers case against your friend.
- Your friend should contact his/her union, if they belong to one.

DCFC79

Im not an expert but i thought the accused was to be suspended when an investigation is carried out, not that your mate is guilty

McKneff

Seems a bit strange, surely an investigation cant take place and end without hearing both sides of the story.

Best not to listen to washroom gossip.

But like the other poster has said, a major breach of confidentiallity.

Does your friend remember being rude/bossy to anyone recently

taxi36

DCFC79 wrote: »

Im not an expert but i thought the accused was to be suspended when an investigation is carried out, not that your mate is guilty

See I would have thought about suspension too but apparently this is only mainly used if there is a risk of the investigation being hindered by the person remaining at work . There wouldnt really be this risk as my mate works in a different area of the factory to the other fella.

Just seems strange to me that the manager is going to make a decision on whether or not my mate actually did what he is being accused of even before they talk to him to get his side!

Surely in a case like this anyone could go round making allegations lol

taxi36

McKneff wrote: »

Seems a bit strange, surely an investigation cant take place and end without hearing both sides of the story.

Best not to listen to washroom gossip.

But like the other poster has said, a major breach of confidentiallity.

Does your friend remember being rude/bossy to anyone recently

The info came from the manager so there IS an investiagtion ongoing.

My mate told this other guy not to be doing a particular thing in the factory that my mate thought was putting the safety of the other worker at risk. The other worker didtn like being told what to do (his words).

DCFC79

taxi36 wrote: »

See I would have thought about suspension too but apparently this is only mainly used if there is a risk of the investigation being hindered by the person remaining at work . There wouldnt really be this risk as my mate works in a different area of the factory to the other fella.

Just seems strange to me that the manager is going to make a decision on whether or not my mate actually did what he is being accused of even before they talk to him to get his side!

Surely in a case like this anyone could go round making allegations lol

is the manager investigating the claims made by the other person and then ask your mates version of events. Yes i see you say the manager would e in contact once investigation is complete, sounds iffy to me.

taxi36

DCFC79 wrote: »

is the manager investigating the claims made by the other person and then ask your mates version of events. Yes i see you say the manager would e in contact once investigation is complete, sounds iffy to me.

My mate wasnt even supposed to know that there was an investigation going on! The supervisor "forgot" that my mate didnt know and happened to mention it to my mate today. My mate then questioned the supervisor who refused to tell him any details. My mate then went to the manager (who apparently is the one conducting the investigation) who would only tell him that yes , a complaint had been received and that it concerned something "bossy" which my mate had said to one of the other facvtory fellas and then my mate was told "when the investigation is complete we will right to you with the outcome"

Strange!

CFC

Nothing strange against it. The other worker has raised either a formal or informal grievance. This is not a disciplinary hearing. Thus no suspension, no invite to a meeting unless the investigating manager feels that they need to speak to your friend to discover more about what went on. It's not unusual not to know that a grievance has been filed against you. He'll find out more about it or not depending what the outcome is.

SarEl

JaymesKenin wrote: »

I'm not up on the legal side, so what I say might be wrong, however I believe:

- There has been a breach of confidentiality, which can kill the accusers case against your friend.

Sorry - this is incorrect.

Management can conduct any investigations they wish at any time and they do not have to tell anyone that they are doing so. They only need to inform if they wish to interview your friend or bring disciplinary action.

There certainly has been a breach of confidentiality - but it won't help you friend because the breach is the manager discussing something with your mate that he should not have done, putting the investigation in jeoprady. For the manager this is a very serious allegation and could easily result in their dismissal - gossiping the conbfidential information about an invetsigation to anyone, never mind the person under investigation, is very serious indeed.

berylchen

I think the accuse had make harm to your mate. If it's general in your country, is harmful to your country. Violate human's free right.