HALIFAX, NS | Harassment Investigation Level 1 & 2
Level 1 – Three-Day Program
Level 1 & 2 – Five-Day Program
Event Dates:
Level 1: June 3 – 5, 2024
Level 1 & 2: June 3 – 7, 2024
*Level 2: June 6 – 7, 2024 (prior attendance in Level One required)
Venue:
Best Western Plus Chocolate Lake Hotel Halifax
250 St. Margarets Bay Road, Halifax
Presented By:
Since 1990 Hill Advisory Services Inc. has been investigating cases of harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment and workplace violence in industries across Canada. We provide training to human resource staff and internal investigators in the same safe, reliable and respectful techniques that we use to conduct fair, thorough and effective investigations. Our entire course is built around the concept of a formal case of harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment and provides hours of professional development on how to properly plan, and execute a thorough investigation.
This program has been approved for Continuing Professional Development hours toward maintaining your CPHR Designation. A Certificate of Completion is provided at the conclusion of the program.
What’s the difference?
Our team at Hill Advisory Services is often asked, “What’s the difference between level 1, 2, and 3?”
We have written this brief article to help you learn more about the differences between our various levels of training. We hope this is helpful as you determine what levels are best suited for you and your team.
Fees:
Investigation Level 1, 3 days – June 3 – 5, 2024
$ 1,400.00 + HST
Investigation Level 1 & 2, 5 days – June 3 – 7, 2024
$ 2,400.00 + HST
*Late registrations will be accepted, space permitting.
Already attended Level 1? Consider joining Level 2 from June 6 – 7, 2024!
Registration, Course Fees & Contact Info:
Questions? Contact us:
Sheri Swain — sswain@hilladvisory.com — Phone: 204-831-7661
Course Outline
Harassment Investigation Level 1 & 2
June 3 – 7, 2024
Harassment Investigation Level 1, 3 days:
Our entire three-day course is built around the concept of a formal case of harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment and provides hours of professional development on how to properly plan, and execute a thorough investigation.
Day 1:
Specific Learning Objectives:
Roles and responsibilities of the investigator
- maintaining objectivity
- clarifying the issues
- determining and substantiating facts
- investigating thoroughly
- allowing a fair hearing for all
- documenting and taking statements
- exploring resolution
Small group work (with facilitator feedback)
- how to prepare for an investigation and an interview
- logistics
- answering questions
- complete preparation
Small group work (with facilitator feedback)
- detailed information analysis task
- how to analyze information
- priority of questions
- question phrasing
Conducting interviews
- mandate development
- establishing a comfort level
- evidence management
- identifying hearsay
- questioning techniques
- maintaining neutral demeanour and comments
- body language
- timing
- planning for potential behaviour concerns
Coordinating the process
- scheduling
- information disclosure
- order of witness scheduling
- re-direct
Day 2:
Specific Learning Objectives:
The entire day is spent in two groups. Participants are presented with an initial complaint from a real-life harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment case and are asked to work in their groups to develop questions for a Complainant, a Respondent and a Witness. They are asked to prepare for the interviews as they would in their workplace, complete with mandate taking into account the learning from Day 1 of the course. Participants are then asked to role play with the assistance of professional actors, who come in the play the Complainant, the Respondent and a Witness. The facilitator takes the role of Union Rep or Lawyer in alternating interview processes. When participants are not actively engaged in the questioning of the witness, they are asked to take notes, and to process additional questions that may arise. The entire day is spent in this way, with immediate and ongoing feedback to the participants in the form of realistic reactions. Some important areas covered are:
- information to share in a mandate
- how to reply to questions/concerns regarding mandate
- how to phrase questions
- how to compile accurate notes
- disclosure and retention of notes
- how to account for additional questions
- how to set a witness at ease
- how to maintain appropriate comments and body language
- how to deal with Union Rep and Lawyer questions
- how to deal with distractions
- how to conclude an interview
- how to ensure information and investigations are unbiased
- how to ensure investigations are based on evidence
Day 3:
Specific Learning Objectives:
The morning is spent in small group analysis of information received from day 2. The groups are asked to review their notes in detail and determine; what was agreed to by the parties, what was not agreed to, what was missed due to investigator error, what information still needs to be collected and to identify the central issue in the case of harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment.
Some important areas covered are:
- attention to detail
- how to identify assumptions
- how to identify bias
- the impact of bias on an investigation and its possible appeal
- how witness information comes into play
- how to formulate a witness list
- evidence management
- how to take a strategic view in analysis
The afternoon is spent in providing feedback on the interview process from the facilitator. Some important areas covered are:
- how questions were phrased
- how to deal with reactions seen
- mandate delivery
- how to close an interview
- how to gather and maintain evidence
- note taking
- statement preparation
- confidentiality
Feedback is also presented regarding the case. We investigated the actual claim, so we spend time discussing the real-life case, in order to provide deeper understanding and conclusion.
The remainder of the time is spent in a large group reviewing:
- how to prepare questions
- how to prepare notes
- how to prepare statements
- how to prepare final reports
- what to think about when writing conclusions
- the principles of natural justice
Finally, the instructor circles back on the initial questions that participants posed on day one of the training which identified “must haves” in the subject matter area.
Harassment Investigation Level 2, 2 days
Pre-work: attendees are tasked with debriefing and familiarizing themselves with a complete set of formal investigation statements before the course (1.5-2 hours of independent work)
Day 4:
Specific Learning Objectives:
The entire day is spent in small groups. Participants are presented with two statements from a real-life case of harassment/discrimination/bullying/sexual harassment. and are asked to work in their groups to develop questions for a number of Witnesses. They are asked to prepare for the interviews as they would in their workplace, complete with mandate and taking into account the learning from Level 1 of the course. Participants are then asked to role play with the assistance of professional actors, who come in the play two Witnesses. The facilitator provides real-time feedback on the interviews while in session. When participants are not actively engaged in the questioning of the witness, they are asked to take notes, and to process additional questions that may arise. The entire day is spent in this way, with immediate and ongoing feedback to the participants in the form of realistic reactions and facilitator feedback. Some important areas covered are:
- information to share in a mandate
- how to reply to questions/concerns regarding mandate
- how to phrase questions
- how to compile accurate notes
- how to account for additional questions
- how to set a witness at ease/difficult interviews
- how to maintain appropriate comments and body language
- how to deal with distractions
- how to conclude an interview
- how to ensure information and investigations are unbiased
- how to ensure investigations are based on evidence
- While the learnings are in similar topic areas, in the Level 2 course, more time is spent on the subtitles of each point and building off previous teachings.
Day 5:
Specific Learning Objectives:
The entire day is spent in small groups. Participants begin with information gathered to date and are asked to prepare for re-direct interviews as they would in their workplace, complete with mandate taking into account the learning from Level 1 of the course. Participants are then asked to role play with the assistance of professional actors, who come in the play a Complainant and a Respondent. The facilitator provides real-time feedback on the interviews while in session. When participants are not actively engaged in the questioning of the witness, they are asked to take notes, and to process additional questions that may arise. The entire day is spent in this way, with immediate and ongoing feedback to the participants in the form of realistic reactions and facilitator feedback.
- Some important areas covered are:
- how to phrase questions
- how to compile accurate notes
- how to account for additional questions
- how to set a witness at ease
- how to maintain appropriate comments and body language
- how to deal with distractions
- how to deal with escalating behaviour
- how to deal with a medical concern in the process
- how to conclude an interview
- how to ensure information and investigations are unbiased
- how to ensure investigations are based on evidence
- While the learnings are in similar topic areas, in the Level 2 course, more time is spent on the subtitles of each point and building off previous teachings.
- Feedback is also presented regarding the case. We investigated the actual claim, so we spend time discussing the real life case, in order to provide deeper understanding and conclusion.
Start time is 9 am daily.
Contact us for detailed, daily timing.
In-house quotations available upon request.