About this item
Highlights
- While employee relations investigations are an important part of organisational practice for managing workplace issues, there is growing evidence of the significant harm they can cause to individuals being taken through them.
- About the Author: Andrew Cooper is the Head of Programmes for employee wellbeing in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in NHS Wales.
- 160 Pages
- Business + Money Management, Management
Description
Book Synopsis
While employee relations investigations are an important part of organisational practice for managing workplace issues, there is growing evidence of the significant harm they can cause to individuals being taken through them. This harm can also spread further to those involved in their delivery, as well as impacting organisational culture and reputation, leading to financial and economic harm.
Under Investigation proposes a shift in mindset that prioritises employee wellbeing alongside the application of the process, reducing potential harm and creating healthier work environments. Based on a programme of work and research within NHS Wales, it explores the wider impact of employee investigations, considers new approaches to applying disciplinary policy and includes a call to the human resources profession for change.
Review Quotes
"A must-read for HR professionals, managers, and leaders at every level. With clarity and authority, it offers a compelling vision for rethinking and transforming how we manage disputes, especially the often-damaging way we approach disciplinary investigations. By shifting our mindset, we can not only cut the financial costs of disciplinaries but also, and more importantly, prevent the personal and collective harm it so often inflicts." Kate Nowicki, former Director of Dispute Resolution, Acas
"This book quickly becomes one that you can't put down. It draws you into the stories of individuals who have been negatively affected by HR processes and makes you question your own practice. It is a call to anyone involved in disciplinary investigations to ensure that respect and dignity are at the heart of them." James Devine, Korn Ferry Consulting and HR Most Influential Practitioner 2024
"I read this book during a long train journey and was completely absorbed. It sets out a key role for public health advocacy: to influence those responsible for setting disciplinary policy and process because of the impact they can have on the working population." Tracy Daszkiewicz, Vice-President, Faculty of Public Health
"A neglected topic brought to life with evidence and stories across disciplines and sectors. The questions asked provide food for thought for anyone working or studying in this area. For HR practitioners and for line managers, this book is a must." Sarah Gilmore, Head of Management, Employment and Organization Section, Cardiff University
"New legislation in Australia is leading international debate on the duty that employers have to prevent the harm that trauma exposure at work can cause. This book strengthens the case further to build safer workplaces through the application of risk management thinking to HR policies and processes." Jason van Schie, Founder and CEO, FlourishDx
"An important contribution to an under-assessed field. A workplace culture of reaching for disciplinary measures rather than dialogue, training and reconciliation will inevitably lead to poor outcomes for the employee and the organization." Alex Aiken, former Head of Profession, UK Government Communication Service
About the Author
Andrew Cooper is the Head of Programmes for employee wellbeing in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in NHS Wales. He holds an honorary research role with the University of Plymouth and is leading a programme of research exploring the impact of the disciplinary process on individuals and organisations.
With a background in healthcare improvement and innovation, he has held senior communications roles across the private, public and voluntary sectors and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Public Relations for his contribution to healthcare communications.
Dr Adrian Neal is the Head of Employee Wellbeing in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in NHS Wales and a Consultant Psychologist. Qualified in both clinical and business psychology, he leads a service providing psychological therapy for employees, consultation and support for teams and external organisations.
He has worked across the public sector, including health, education, policing and government on employee experience and wellbeing initiatives. He has published widely and holds honorary roles with Cardiff and Plymouth universities and is a long-term member of the British Psychological Society's Leadership and Management Faculty.
