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Acas Guidance on Carrying Out Investigations in the Workplace

In any workplace, situations will arise where it is necessary for the employer to carry out an investigation before deciding what to do next. Common situations that require an investigation include:

  • receiving a grievance from an employee;
  • allegations of bullying and harassment;
  • potential disciplinary matters against an employee; and
  • concerns over company policies and procedures.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides guidance on conducting workplace investigations. This outlines the essential decisions and actions employers of all sizes must take when deciding to conduct an investigation and gives guidance on conducting each stage of the process.

The guidance is intended both as a resource for those with experience of conducting investigations and as a suitable reference document to assist in training those who are new to the process.