1.1 The goal of this guide is to conduct unbiased and fair trauma-informed and emotionally literate investigations and balance the needs of employees to the evolution and goals of the business.
1.1.1 All investigators shall undergo emotional literacy and trauma-informed training with a focus on maintaining a healthy and productive culture for the organization and employees.
1.1.2 Establish emotionally literate and trauma-informed policies and procedures that prevent harm during and after the investigation process. The goal is fact finding and harm repair for the subject and complainants.
1.1.3 Establish emotionally literate and trauma-informed procedures that boost the productivity, creativity, and success of the investigative process.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of international Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Keywords
emotional literacy; fair and human investigation; internal workplace investigation; workplace
Rationale
2.1 The goal of internal investigations is reduction of legal exposure and reduction of harm to subjects and complainants within a fair and robust humane process.
2.2 Modern investigators shall understand the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) laws and be experts at executing trauma-informed processes. They shall also be emotionally literate and able to hold themselves accountable to the highest levels of self-awareness and integrity during the investigative process.
2.3 The modern trauma-informed and emotionally literate investigative process provides employees with a psychological assurance of internal review of their workplace issues without immediate recourse to the legal system.
2.4 Investigations are built and accepted on trust and standards for the investigation, and the investigator creates and sustains that trust.
2.5 Incorporate standards for emotional literate investigations and a trauma-informed approach as prerequisites for creating and sustaining investigative units.
2.6 The outcomes of using a trauma-informed approach and emotional literate investigative techniques shall be measurable and subject to continuous improvement.
