Independent Workplace Investigations

Do you need an independent investigator?

The real question is whether you want to learn about the important aspects of your situation, or find them out in a tribunal, or worse still, the press? An employee may have raised a grievance or blown the whistle and an effective investigation can get to the bottom of whether there is any basis for this and if so, get a full understanding of the situation. You may believe that disciplinary proceedings are warranted and an independent investigation will allow you to undercover all the relevant evidence (in accordance with the ACAS Guide to Discipline and grievances at work).
Workplace issues can be expensive, time consuming and destructive. It is essential that employers are able to show that they have dealt with such issues fairly. An external expert can reduce stress and personal strain that such investigations entail, and provide reassurance that the process has been carried out properly and fairly, without undermining management authority.

Darren Sherborne is a highly skilled and experienced workplace investigator with a track record of dealing effectively with complex and sometimes emotive issues in the workplace. He has a reputation for combining an empathetic approach to listening with a no nonsense attitude to reporting.

Darren has over 25 years’ experience of employment relations after leaving military service in the Coldstream Guards. Having begun his legal career in the trade union movement, he moved his legal practice to supporting employers as well as employees, and he was appointed to the board of arbitration at ACAS, recognising his knowledge of both sides of the employment relations fence.

“We were faced with a complicated and highly delicate situation which involved senior levels of our organisation. Mr Sherborne came in and was fair but firm in difficult circumstances. Being a family business, this obviously made the situation more complex than might be the case in a purely corporate setting due to the personality clashes, but this did not phase him. He prioritised our need to progress the investigation with a minimum delay and disruption to the business, and produced a report which was both comprehensive, sensitive but without shying away from difficult findings. We were very grateful for the time he put aside to dedicate to our needs, including coming out for fully face-to-face interviews with numerous members of staff even though we were down in the south east of England, which he conducted with full confidentiality and impartiality. His recommendations were helpful and continue to be of use to our Board and we would certainly recommend his service and the service of this firm to anyone facing difficult or ambiguous circumstances requiring investigation”.

SG