No one ever expects to become the subject of a workplace investigation, until it happens. 

But the truth is, workplace investigations aren’t always about wrongdoing. Often, they’re a corporate protocol for protecting both employees and the business from possible (but not proven) risks. 

So if something feels off at your workplace, HR’s tone has changed, your manager and team grow distant, these could be signs you are being investigated at work. 

And it’s best to know these in advance! 

What Triggers a Workplace Investigation?

A workplace investigation usually starts when someone raises a concern, informally or through a formal report to HR, about some workplace issue. The receiving team then has to look into the claim to get the record straight. 

Here are the most common causes for a company internal investigation:

• Harassment or discrimination complaints. If HR receives a tip about inappropriate behavior or workplace bias, they must investigate to ensure compliance with labor laws and company policy. Such inquiries are quite common, and 63% of US employees have achieved issue resolutions after these investigations.

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