Employers across Omagh and the wider Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with new guidance from the Labour Relations Agency designed to support fair and reasonable workplace investigations.
Handling employment investigations can be challenging, particularly for small and growing businesses without dedicated HR teams. Mistakes in process or decision making can carry legal and reputational risks. To help address this, the Labour Relations Agency has published updated guidance that sets out clear legal and best practice standards.
The guidance, titled Conducting Employment Investigations, provides a structured and practical approach to workplace fact finding that is proportionate, transparent and defensible. It is based on the PEACE model, which focuses on planning and preparation, clear communication, accurate accounts, proper closure and evaluation. The guidance is also informed by recent case law, making it especially relevant for employers operating in Northern Ireland.
Key areas covered include how to plan and carry out investigations, conduct investigative interviews, manage remote investigations, make reasonable adjustments for staff, and produce clear and well evidenced investigation reports.
This guidance will be particularly useful for Omagh based employers, managers and HR practitioners who want to ensure their workplace procedures are fair, consistent and legally sound. It is also valuable for small businesses that may only deal with investigations occasionally but still need to get the process right.
Read the LRA’s new guidance on Conducting Employment Investigations.
