Newspapers have recently reported many stories of complaints of sexual harassment being either poorly or entirely un-investigated.  This neglect, if true, led to additional behaviors and reports by alleged victims of these accusations. If they just exist as rumors and are, in fact, untrue, the reputation of the person (or persons) being accused is destroyed almost as badly as it would have been if there had been an investigation and this person was found guilty. And in either case, the victims (alleged or in fact) received no justice. No matter what, it is important to take any complaint seriously – and to make sure there is a neutral, comprehensive and fair investigation conducted.

This course starts off by offering two examples of accusations being brushed off by management – and the ensuing results. Next, we do a very brief review of the laws pertaining to harassment and discrimination. After this, the focus is on how to conduct a neutral, comprehensive, and fair investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct in a corporate setting, along with additional case studies.

This course covers how to conduct an investigation into a complaint of inappropriate behavior in the workplace - and what to do if the complaint reveals a problem.

Learning Objectives
  • Identify when it is appropriate to assign tasks by sex
  • Explore the laws pertaining to harassment and discrimination
  • Explore methods for reporting inapproriate activity
  • Explore how to conduct a neutral, comprehensive, and fair investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct in a corporate setting
  • Mitigate risk management and workforce issues with proper investigative process
Last updated/reviewed: August 26, 2023

Included In Certifications

This course is included in the following Certification Programs:

29 CoursesMastering Management Certification

  1. Preventing Harassment, Abusive Behavior, Bullying, And Discrimination In the Workplace
  2. The Art and Science of Interviewing
  3. Investigating a Complaint of Inappropriate Behavior in The Workplace
  4. Understanding Our Unconscious Biases
  5. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Management’s Role
  6. Management Providing Safety and Better Ergonomics
  7. Maintaining a Culture of Innovation and Creativity
  8. Managing Passive People
  9. Group Decision Making and Problem Solving
  10. Resolving Workplace Conflict
  11. Company Culture: Creating and Maintaining the Best
  12. Part I: Cultural and Behavioral Information for Business in an International – Global Environment
  13. Part II: Country Specific, Cultural, and Behavioral Information - Doing Business in a Global Environment
  14. Effective Time Management and Goal Setting/Delegation
  15. Culture: Inside the Company and Outside the Country
  16. Cognitive Styles (Styles of Thinking, Talking, Giving and Receiving Information)
  17. Finding Success with Teams Working Far Apart
  18. Change Management: The People Side
  19. Effective Workplace Negotiation and Persuasion
  20. Ethics and Attitude in the Workplace
  21. Creating Rewards and Recognitions that Get You What You Want to Achieve
  22. Onboarding: From Entry-Level to Senior Executive
  23. Marrying Career Development with Succession Planning
  24. Visibility Enhances Promotability
  25. Delegating Skills for Managers
  26. Assertiveness Skills for Executives, Managers and HR Professionals
  27. How EQ Helps Motivate Your Staff
  28. Effective Meeting Management for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
  29. Communication: A Two-Way Process
19 Reviews (85 ratings)

Reviews

5
Member's Profile
This was an informative and useful presentation. The steps and instructions were presented in a logical order and, if needed, should be easy to follow if the need for an investigation occurs.

4
Anonymous Author
The course was very informative and will help with any harassment claims we may have. There were may "take aways" that will help me put together a harassment claim checklist and packet.

5
Anonymous Author
Informative course to help navigate these tricky waters of harassment claims. A thorough look at things to consider and the appropriate response in handling (including what not to do).

5
Anonymous Author
This course provided a strong foundation for investigating complaints. The process for conducting the initial stage and the investigation stage was particularly beneficial.

5
Anonymous Author
This was a good course on how to handle investigations. The course had a good refresher on situations in the workplace where you can not discriminate.

3
Anonymous Author
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4
Anonymous Author
For me, there's too much focus on sexual harassment. Other types of complaints were not considered in equal detail.

5
Member's Profile
This course provides excellent practical information regarding investigating a complaint in the workplace.

5
Anonymous Author
The course is very interesting. I did not know when clients request women, we only need to select women

4
Member's Profile
Policy and Types of Complaints (5:06) was missing or the link was broken. Still a very good course.

4
Anonymous Author
The real life scenarios were thought-provoking and added to meat to the presentation.

2
Member's Profile
Informative in nature but the candy in the instructor's mouth was very distracting.

5
Anonymous Author
Love the examples frequently sited - makes the instruction more relevant.

4
Anonymous Author
Good use of situations and examples to relate the course material to.

4
Member's Profile
Course met objectives, good overview of subject and well presented.

3
Member's Profile
maybe it's just me but most of this stuff seems rather obvious?

5
Anonymous Author
Good refresher on appropriate workplace behavior.

5
Member's Profile
Excellent course

5
Member's Profile
Great!

Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate

No Advanced Preparation or Prerequisites are needed for this course. 

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION And OVERVIEW
Examples, Policy, and Laws
  True Stories of Investigations 8:31
  Policy and Types of Complaints5:06
  Harassment and Discrimination Laws for the Workplace11:14
  Other Examples and Management's Initial Decisions 11:08
Investigation and Report
  Investigation the Complaint the Initial Stage 12:02
  Starting The Investigation and The Report16:59
CONCLUSION
  Management's Response and Course Summary 5:09
Continuous Play
  Investigating a Complaint of Inappropriate Behavior in The Workplace1:12:43
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
  Slides: Investigating a Complaint of Inappropriate Behavior in The WorkplacePDF
  Investigating a Complaint of Inappropriate Behavior in The Workplace Glossary/IndexPDF
  Bonus ArticlePDF
REVIEW and TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam