The WRC found an employee’s complaint about the investigation of her workplace bullying allegation well founded and recommended that her employer start the investigation afresh. The recommendation was dated 25 October 2016.
The employee said she had not received meeting minutes, that witnesses she identified were not contacted, and that she had no chance to respond to the employer’s feedback before the report was finalised. The employer said it had commissioned an independent HR professional and attributed the delay to diary constraints and bereavement.
The adjudicator found the investigation was unnecessarily prolonged, did not meet the employee’s witnesses and did not give her an opportunity to respond before the report was finalised. The WRC recommended a fresh investigation following the rules of natural justice, with an agreed timeframe and opportunities for both sides to comment on the findings.