Advanced Internal Investigations: Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations in the #MeToo Era

October 24, 2019

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Now more than ever it is important for employers to conduct effective (and defensible) workplace investigations. Successful investigations require planning, preparation, thoroughness, fairness, neutrality and promptness. This presentation will discuss when to conduct an investigation, criteria for effective investigations, examples of effective and ineffective investigations, how to conduct interviews, credibility determinations and other important investigation issues.

Robert A. Levy represents employers in all types of employment litigation and counsels clients in solving employment problems and developing employment strategies. Bob’s practice focuses on wage and hour law, discrimination, harassment and retaliation law, and all aspects of employment relationships, including hiring, performance, discipline, termination, workplace violence and reductions in force. Bob has extensive experience in conducting and overseeing investigations, and representing employers in meditations and before state and federal government agencies.
 

Annie Ellis primarily focuses on litigation, defending on behalf of employers.  Most of Annie’s practice involves defense of wage and hour class actions and representative actions and has significant experience implementing aggressive and early defense strategies.  Annie also represents employers in single- and multi-plaintiff actions involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, unfair competition, breach of contract, and other employment claims.  Annie targets these cases toward successful summary judgment or adjudication.  Annie assists employers with agency matters, such as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Department of Labor, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, OSHA and Cal/OSHA.

In addition to litigation, Annie counsels employers on effective ways to reduce their risk of litigation through policy changes, employee handbook updates and revisions, compliant leaves of absence, workplace investigations, employee training's, discipline and terminations, employment agreements, arbitration agreements, commission agreements, reductions-in-force, employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, and other human resource issues and strategies.

As a senior human resources executive with more than 20 years of experience that includes teaching, consulting and management, Veronica Meyers brings a wealth of knowledge to her position as ICW Group’s Vice President of Human Resources (HR). In this role, she strives to create a people strategy that fosters innovation, profitable growth, and encourages Team Members to grow and succeed.

Since joining the company in 2007, Veronica has introduced wellness into the culture, developed and implemented many employee centered initiatives, including periodic Team Member surveys, employee involvement teams, recognition and reward programs, and a casual dress code. Additionally, since 2013 she has built a comprehensive philanthropic partnership with Promises2Kids, an organization that serves to improve the lives of foster youth, with financial, volunteer, education and program support.

Prior to joining ICW Group, Veronica was Vice President of HR operations for CB Richard Ellis. She has also previously held senior-level positions with First Data Corporation and Gateway Corporation. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management. Veronica earned a Master of Science in business administration, with a concentration in organizational behavior/HR from San Diego State University.