CLIENT CASE STUDY – Sexual Harassment
An impartial investigation into a sexual harassment allegation
The situation
A junior female employee had made allegations of sexual harassment against her male senior manager, and in a scenario like this one it can be difficult to ask a colleague to make judgement on their peer, which is why the organisation requested our help.
It’s common for us to investigate sensitive matters that involve harassment, bullying or protected characteristics between employees and a direct manager. Our objective is always to provide an independent and unbiased assessment of the case, taking in the viewpoint of all those involved to identify the right outcome.
Our approach
Our USP in these cases is to offer complete impartiality and we do this by taking an enquiring and analytical approach to the investigation. Being completely neutral to the business, the situation, and the individuals involved enables us to look from all angles and ask the right questions.
Our process is structured and effective and begins with gathering all the relevant background details and documents, including the source of the allegations and any evidence to support that. We also consider any contractual and policy documents related to the individuals.
The next step is to meet and interview the witnesses and get their statements drafted and approved. A full report of our findings based on the evidence gathered is then submitted, along with clear recommendations on the next steps.
The outcome
Following our investigation on this case it became clear that while the senior manager had displayed inappropriate behaviour towards the junior team member in question, we did not consider it to be sexual harassment.
What the investigation did reveal was that his behaviour had been manipulative and overbearing. It was found that he had been bullying the junior employee (and other female and male colleagues), although that behaviour was not of a sexual nature. It was also evident that he was treating some members in the team more favourably than others.
We recommended to the employer that disciplinary action be taken against the senior manager, and that they implement a course of management training for all members of their senior team to improve awareness and prevent similar instances in the future.
If you need help
Our team are very experienced at handling investigations and have successfully completed many cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, breach of trust and more. We have also successfully stepped in when initial attempts at resolution have failed.
Get in touch to book a FREE 30-minute consultation call with our team to find out more.
Expertise
- Contracts of employment
- Settlement agreements
- Tribunals & Court Claims
- Policies & Handbooks
- Absence management
- redundancy
- Asset Protection
- Training & Development
- Salary Benchmarking
- Mediation
- Investigations
- Disciplinaries
- Grievances
- TUPE
- Business Change
- Employee Engagement
- Executive Agreements
- discrimination
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- HR & Legal advice
- Employment Law
Summary
We are a niche law practice specialising in employment law and HR solutions with a small and dedicated team that have a wealth of experience between them. We’re based in the Midlands and support clients both regionally and across the UK.
We cover all areas of employment law and people management for both businesses and individuals, delivered by our team of expert employment lawyers and HR practitioners.
We work with in-house legal teams, HR professionals, business advisers, managers and directors across a wide range of sectors including engineering, construction, logistics, financial, charities and many more.
Our HR services can be provided on a project basis or we can offer ongoing regular support where there is little or no HR function in place. Our friendly team will get to know your business needs and work closely with you to form a seamless extension of your in-house management team.
We also support and advise individuals on their employment law rights, helping them to confidently navigate their career journey from recruitment through to exit.
We’re passionate about building great client relationships and our top priority is putting you first. We provide a personalised service that skips the jargon and delivers practical advice in a straightforward way.
Employment law and HR issues can be complex but finding solutions shouldn’t be! Our approach is to keep things simple, listen to what you want, and deliver the result you need.