Protecting Your Business
Nearly 20% of American employees have experienced or witnessed some form of harassment at work. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, up to 85% of women report that they have been sexually harassed at work. Almost 30% of workers have observed at least one compliance violation, and the same number reports being pressured to compromise ethical standards in the workplace.
The data is clear: misconduct and inappropriate behavior is far too common in the workplace. And these behaviors are often illegal, exposing businesses to steep legal penalties, wasted time, and lost talent. Companies are more likely to avoid legal liability and the business costs of employee misconduct—and ensure they are protected when such issues arise—by engaging independent, external consultants to conduct thorough workplace investigations.
Our team can fully address your business’ investigation needs by drawing upon our years of expertise in litigating employment claims and guiding employers as they respond to employment and business challenges. We offer a full slate of workplace investigations, including but not limited to the issues below.
Contact Our Team of Workplace Investigation Attorneys to Schedule a Free Consultation
Submit an online contact form today to ask about scheduling your workplace investigation.
Workplace Investigations
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DiscriminationWhen an employer becomes aware of an accusation of discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, or any other protected category, it needs to get to the facts fast. Doing so requires the sensitivity and strategy our firm provides.
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Sexual HarassmentOur examination of employee complaints will involve a thorough review of testimony and available evidence. We will help you support potential victims while simultaneously maintaining an objective investigation.
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Workplace BullyingOftentimes workers are intimidated, insulted, demeaned, or shamed by supervisors or colleagues. This kind of bullying detracts from a healthy and productive workplace culture, and may incur legal liability. An investigation can help determine the severity of such bullying and the best way to respond.
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RetaliationNothing reduces trust in a company and its policies more than retaliation for reporting bad behavior. We investigate complaints of reprisal for reporting discrimination or harassment under Title VII or the Illinois Human Rights Act. We also investigate others forms of retaliation, such as that prohibited by OSHA, SOX, or other state, federal, and local statutes.
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Whistleblower ComplaintsYour business will want a thorough investigation whenever an employee reports illegal activity, especially if a report is made to a government agency, or if an employee refuses to participate in unlawful conduct. Identifying the issue early on can help avoid costly litigation down the road.
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Equal Pay ComplaintsClaims of unequal pay can be toxic for a workplace, giving the impression a company has engaged in gender-based unfairness and reducing trust in leadership. A swift investigation into such claims can help your company make any needed corrections and message to employees that unfair pay discrepancies are not tolerated.
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Workplace Drug and Alcohol Use and AbuseEmployees may raise complaints of unfair discipline, including suspension or termination, as a result of an alleged inability to perform a job connected with drug or alcohol abuse. This issue is complex, especially when tied to substance use outside of work, such as medical marijuana use.
A Proper Investigation Is Beneficial
Many employers wonder when to conduct an audit or investigation, and how exactly to proceed. The experts at The Prinz Law Firm have experience helping businesses make such determinations and leveraging best practices that we tailor to each employer’s particular needs and concerns.
Promoting a Healthy Workplace
Swiftly responding to complaints of misconduct or impropriety with a workplace investigation tailored to your business’ unique circumstances helps to promote a healthy workplace culture and communicates that you value your employees. In addition to rectifying an employee complaint, the positive byproducts of investigating employee misconduct include:
- Fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.
- Employees seeing that you take their concerns seriously.
- Employees feeling safe, secure, and respected at work.
- Employees observing the company following its own policies and procedures, as well as the law.
What Makes Prinz Different
Our employment attorneys regularly advocate and litigate on behalf of both employees and employers. Most investigators cannot say the same. As a result of our diversified client base, we enjoy a 360-degree perspective on employment law, a perspective that guides our investigation strategy from the start.
Our firm has investigated everything from one-on-one interpersonal issues in the workplace to complex matters involving significant electronically stored information (ESI). Our process is broad and yet thorough: we are skilled at eliciting information from live interviews yet employ a systematic process for retrieving and reviewing both physical documentation and digital data. And transparency and discretion guide our investigatory work at every turn.
Our firm has been engaged in workplace investigations for a variety of business clients, which has entailed investigation planning, witness interviewing, credibility assessments, and internal investigation result reporting. One of our attorneys, Laura Feldman, served as a trial attorney for approximately 9 years at the federal agency concerning fairness in employment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). While with the EEOC, Laura handled numerous aspects of investigative work, including participating in investigations, developing protocols for investigations, advising investigators, and analyzing investigative files.
In addition to conducting investigations, our attorneys have led various CLEs for in-house and general counsel, human resources specialists, and other professionals on how to best conduct a workplace investigation. Past presentations have covered basic investigation techniques to more advanced topics in the field. Notably, two of our attorneys presented at the Association of Workplace Investigators, receiving rave reviews and feedback on their unique argument. Our firm is equipped to tackle a diversity of workplace investigations, and to do so with tact, thoroughness, and discretion.
Investigation Consulting
Oftentimes, it is best to welcome independent, external counselors to perform your workplace investigations. Doing so reduces the potential for bias and ensures best practices are being followed. This may not be practical for all organizations, however. If you prefer to conduct an internal investigation utilizing your own personnel, or if the issue does not warrant external assistance, we can consult with your business regarding how to proceed, including:
- Reviewing best practices for conducting investigations.
- Designing an investigation plan, including identification of interviewers and witnesses.
- Discussion of investigation results, including implementation of disciplinary processes.
- When and how to communicate the results of the investigation, and to whom.
Contact Our Team of Workplace Investigation Attorneys to Schedule a Free Consultation
Submit an online contact form today to ask about scheduling your workplace investigation.
Workplace Investigation Training Webinar
If you are interested in honing your investigative skills and would like to do so from the comfort of your office or home, consider Prinz’s Workplace Investigation Training Webinar. This easy-to-access webinar will walk you through all the basics of conducting an investigation in the workplace, setting you and your workplace up for success. Click below to learn more.
The Prinz Law Firm's Podcast
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Ep. 45 - Illinois’ New Employment Laws of 2026 -
Ep. 44 – You vs. You: The Art of Negotiating Your New Year’s Resolutions
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Ep. 43 – To Give or Not to Give? A Guide to Being Merry, Not Messy
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Ep. 42 - What It Really Takes to Have a Healthy Workplace Culture, with Michelle Aronson
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Ep. 41 - Managing Misconduct the Right Way
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Ep. 40 – Navigating Recent Workplace Trends, with Beth Ridley
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