How are workplace harassment and workplace violence investigations different?
While workplace harassment complaints and workplace violence concerns may both require an investigation, they often demand very different approaches.
According to Rocky Pipkin, owner of Pipkin Detective Agency, different situations require different skill sets and investigators with different backgrounds.
How are harassment investigations handled?
Some investigations require navigating sensitive conversations with employees who may feel uncomfortable discussing what happened.
Pipkin frequently assigns investigator Leah to workplace harassment and hostile work environment cases because of her ability to build trust and help employees feel comfortable discussing highly personal and emotionally charged situations.
How are workplace threat investigations different?
Other investigations involve more immediate concerns, such as threats, hostile terminations or workplace violence risks.
Pipkin's team includes investigators with extensive law enforcement backgrounds who have handled high-pressure situations throughout their careers. Their experience can be especially valuable when businesses are dealing with employees who have made threats or raised workplace safety concerns.
What is the investigator's role during a difficult situation?
According to Pipkin, the goal isn't to escalate emotions but to uncover the facts.
"We're not there to beat somebody up," he said. "We're there to find out what happened."
That approach often helps investigators gather valuable information while keeping emotions from spiraling out of control.
"We're trying to find out what happened and keep things calm at the same time," Pipkin said.
Why is having a team with different experience important?
By building a team with complementary strengths, Pipkin Detective Agency is able to adapt its approach based on the needs of the client and the circumstances involved.
That philosophy has helped shape the agency throughout its nearly four decades in business.
"The goal is to get to the truth," Pipkin said. "And the best way to do that is to have the right person talking to the right people."
Story:
