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Investigations

When your employee relations problem is complicated, involves upper management, or the investigator needs to be seen as completely unbiased, let our experienced professional with 20+ years of employment law experience perform your investigation. A properly done investigation is the first step in making sure that you are protecting the company from liability based on possible violations of local, state, or federal law. Additionally, even if there is no legal wrongdoing, a good investigation can uncover any issues that are problematic under your company’s mission, vision, and values.

We focus our investigation on any possible harassment, discrimination, bullying, or other company policy violations based on the original complaint made to the company. To best serve your company’s needs, we work closely with the appropriate company representative to ensure that the investigation is undertaken with the least amount of disruption to your workplace. This includes scheduling employee interviews, gathering relevant employment documents, and providing on-going status updates regarding the investigation.

Our main investigator, Sharon M. Jutila, has an extensive legal background in employment law and investigation having practiced as a management defense attorney working exclusively for employers at two different national law firms. During her legal career, Sharon conducted hundreds of interviews during investigations. While no longer actively practicing, she keeps current on all the most recent legal developments and regularly attends legal seminars focused on developing investigation and interviewing skills. No matter how complicated or sensitive your investigation is, Sharon can help you navigate the evolving situation to a satisfactory conclusion.

SMJ Consulting also has other experienced professionals who can conduct investigations into a variety of complaints that commonly arise in companies. They are experienced in conducting interviews and assisting the company through the investigation process. Regardless of which consultant performs the investigation, SMJ Consulting provides an investigation summary that includes the allegations investigated, the persons interviewed, the facts discovered, any evidence reviewed, credibility determinations, and a conclusion as to what occurred. This document is the company’s key evidence to defend any agency or legal claim that may be filed against it.

Should you find your company in a situation where you need to engage an outside investigator, please contact us. We also work closely with any in-house or outside legal counsel for the company.