The HR Investigations Podcast

When Managers Harm: Investigating Allegations of Mental Health Impact

When Managers Harm: Investigating Allegations of Mental Health Impact
Episode Summary:Employees are increasingly raising concerns that managers are harming their mental well-being. But how should HR respond? In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, Natalie A. Ivey walks you through how to investigate complaints that a manager is “creating mental health issues” for their team. Learn how to focus on observable behavior, conduct fair interviews, analyze findings, and make recommendations that protect employees while supporting organizational culture.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why HR should focus on behavior, not diagnoses
How to conduct intake interviews around sensitive complaints
What data and witnesses to consider in the investigation
How to analyze credibility and identify patterns of behavior
Recommendations HR can make to address toxic leadership
Resources & Links:
Resources & Links:
How to Conduct Internal Investigations – Book & Toolkit
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieivey/
https://www.rpchr.com/event/internal-investigations-virtual-event-november

Bullying in the Workplace: Investigating Allegations with Fairness and Confidence

Episode Summary:Bullying in the workplace isn’t always unlawful, but it is always harmful. In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, host Natalie A. Ivey breaks down how to handle investigations into bullying allegations. From intake to interviews, evidence analysis to follow-up, you’ll learn a structured process for responding to complaints with fairness and consistency.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The difference between bullying and unlawful harassment
What questions to ask during intake
Best practices for interviewing complainants, respondents, and witnesses
How to analyze credibility and identify behavioral patterns
Recommendations HR can make after findings are complete
Resources & Links:
How to Conduct Internal Investigations – Book & Toolkit -
Check out Natalie’s new book here
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieivey/
https://www.rpchr.com/event/internal-investigations-virtual-event-november
 

Smart Investigations: How AI and Case Management Solutions are Transforming HR Investigations Case Management

In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, we speak with a leading executive from Case IQ, a premier case management software company, about the vital role of technology in handling sensitive HR investigations. From bulletproof documentation to ironclad evidence security—and now AI-driven insights—you’ll learn how to modernize your HR practices to minimize risk and boost efficiency.
What You’ll Learn:
How to document investigations properly to protect your organization
Why spreadsheets are no longer safe for managing case files
How AI is assisting with case summaries, trend analysis, and risk reduction
What to look for in a modern case management platform
Why case analytics can help HR be more proactive and data-driven
Guest:
Jakub Ficner, Director of Partnership at Case IQLink to Learn More About Case IQ
Episode Overview
In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, host Natalie Ivey explores how technology is reshaping HR and Employee Relations investigations. From airtight documentation and evidence security to the growing role of AI and analytics, today’s conversation reveals how tools like CaseIQ are helping organizations reduce risk, protect sensitive data, and uncover powerful insights that drive cultural change.
Joining Natalie is Jakub Ficner, Director of Partnerships at CaseIQ, who shares real-world examples of how HR teams are moving beyond spreadsheets and shared drives to secure, intelligent case management systems that make investigations more consistent, defensible, and proactive.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The Foundation of InvestigationsWhy strong, consistent documentation is critical—not only for compliance but also for organizational credibility—and the common mistakes HR professionals make.
Evidence SecurityThe risks of using outdated tools like spreadsheets and shared drives, and how CaseIQ ensures confidentiality, chain-of-custody, and access control.
AI as an Investigator’s AssistantHow artificial intelligence is being used in HR case management to surface patterns, accelerate workflows, and reveal systemic issues HR might otherwise miss.
From Data to DecisionsHow dashboards and analytics empower HR leaders to identify trends, influence policies, and proactively address workplace risks before they escalate.
Featured Guest
Jakub FicnerDirector of Partnerships, CaseIQJakub brings extensive experience in helping organizations leverage case management technology to strengthen their investigative processes and reduce organizational risk.
 Link to Learn More About Case IQ
Connect with the Host
Natalie Ivey is an HR consultant, author, and host of The HR Investigations Podcast. She specializes in helping organizations navigate employee relations challenges with compliance, consistency, and confidence.
LinkedIn: Natalie Ivey
Enjoyed This Episode?
If you found this conversation helpful:
Subscribe to The HR Investigations Podcast on your favorite platform.
Share it with a colleague who manages investigations.
Leave a review to help more HR professionals discover the show.
Connect with Us:Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Resources Mentioned:
How to Conduct Internal Investigations by Natalie IveyLink to the Book
Join Natalie Ivey for a live, 2-day virtual workshop:How to Conduct Internal Investigations – A Practical Workshop for HR ProfessionalsSeptember 23–24 | 🕚 11 AM – 5 PM ET | 📍 Via ZoomWalk through a mock investigation, learn credibility assessment techniques, and gain practical tools to handle even the toughest cases.Register by September 16 – Spots are limited!To Register go to: https://www.rpchr.com/events

Certified to Lead: Why HR Credentials Matter in Investigations & Employee Relations with Guest CEO Laura Middleton

Guest Laura Middleton, CEO, Human Resources Certification Preparation | HRCP.com
In this episode, podcast host Natalie Ivey discusses Key topics: 
The role of HR certification in building trust and influence during investigations
Key differences between SHRM and HRCI credentials
How certification prepares HR pros for high-stakes conversations with executives
Real examples where certification helped drive results
Getting started: Choosing the right certification for your goals
Special offer for The HR Investigations Podcast listeners: Receive 15% off any certification exam prep materials or products using the code INVESTIGATE. Just go to HRCP.com
Announcement of Natalie’s upcoming 2-day virtual workshop: How to Conduct Internal Investigations: A Practical Workshop for HR Professionals on September 23-24 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.  
REGISTER HERE
The workshop will provide education on how to navigate tricky employee relations’ issues, how to assess when to open an investigation and when not to, how to prepare for and conduct effective witness interviews, how to gather and preserve evidence, and how to prepare a final investigation report.
Examine the issue of managers just not documenting employee behavior and performance issues.
Discuss the danger in firing an employee “At-will” without any sort of documentation and how an EEOC investigator sees it
Examine why it is critical to have documentation that supports an employee engaged in misconduct that violated organizational policy or that the employee wasn’t meeting performance expectations
Discuss the issue of managers failing to document employee issues, run to HR announcing they wish to fire an employee and then view HR as “the enemy” when HR pushes back on a termination of employment due to lack of documentation.
Identify root causes to managers failing to document
Explain the benefits of phone apps and tech shortcuts to help managers stay organized and minimize the burdensome task of memorializing notes of employee conversations
Review several key solutions to improving managers’ documentation capabilities
Natalie’s new book now available on Amazon:
Check out Natalie’s new book here
Connect With Us:
Subscribe at rpchr.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
Learn more about our SHRM and HRCI approved training programs and upcoming events at rpchr.com

When HR Gets It Wrong: Lessons Learned from Botched Investigations

Podcast Title: The HR Investigations Podcast
Episode Title: When HR Gets It Wrong: Lessons Learned from Botched Investigations
Hosted by: Natalie Ivey
 
Episode Summary:
In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, Natalie Ivey breaks down real-life investigation failures that resulted in serious consequences for organizations—from wrongful termination lawsuits to reputational damage and broken employee trust.
You’ll hear three case studies where HR got it wrong—sometimes unintentionally—and discover the critical lessons each one teaches about fairness, documentation, neutrality, and investigative bias.
Natalie also shares her Top 5 Prevention Strategies for avoiding costly missteps and building investigation processes that are defensible, ethical, and compliant.
 
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
Why skipping key steps in an investigation can be legally risky
How poor documentation can damage your credibility
How bias—conscious or unconscious—can derail fact-finding
The importance of procedural fairness and neutrality
Five practical strategies for strengthening your HR investigations
 
🧪 Case Studies Covered:
The Accused Was Never Interviewed – Leading to a wrongful termination lawsuit
Investigative Notes Go Missing – Resulting in lack of evidence during a legal dispute
Bias in the Interview Process – Causing mistrust and reopening of a closed case
 
✅ Natalie’s 5 Prevention Strategies:
Use an investigation plan
Document every step
Ensure neutrality
Base conclusions on facts, not feelings
Close the communication loop with all parties involved
 
📚 Resources Mentioned:
How to Conduct Internal Investigations by Natalie Iveyhttps://www.amazon.com/How-Conduct-Internal-Investigations-Professionals/dp/1948382970/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fMSMv7BRFHw6ljJoBjP4uGljsUr8ocRRqCxTa6rWlSnGTlSUW7w1EUy8qROIMQPvboHzq4T7AX2fM0DI2T-eyVjPtyaK3aIZLR8lDDTOR8diQtTTAkNSWoNyP9Y0qlH7DjF5D7Zm7baLMUMDJyUmIUoAyCy6YA-MXARlZUOvk2U0AdiiLHIELS1i6lweM_F-dgzrSkLVNq34XyWd3uzdLuHaKiyTQgo3ZBCG6SqFdCc.wzBpFyf_pJMoKelkCm3YeZPXZzCfdZUvuKyrwwpLH_I&qid=1755647855&sr=8-1
Join Natalie Ivey for a live, 2-day virtual workshop:How to Conduct Internal Investigations – A Practical Workshop for HR ProfessionalsSeptember 23–24 | 🕚 11 AM – 5 PM ET | 📍 Via ZoomWalk through a mock investigation, learn credibility assessment techniques, and gain practical tools to handle even the toughest cases.Register by September 16 – Spots are limited!
Join Natalie Ivey for a live, 2-day virtual workshop:How to Conduct Internal Investigations – A Practical Workshop for HR ProfessionalsSeptember 23–24 | 🕚 11 AM – 5 PM ET | 📍 Via ZoomWalk through a mock investigation, learn credibility assessment techniques, and gain practical tools to handle even the toughest cases.Register by September 16 – Spots are limited!https://www.rpchr.com/events
 
 
👂 Listen + Subscribe:
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!
LinkedIn: 
🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎧
When HR Gets It Wrong: Lessons Learned from Botched Investigations
As HR professionals, we do our best to handle investigations thoroughly and fairly. But let’s face it—sometimes we miss the mark. And when that happens, the consequences can be costly: lawsuits, damaged reputations, and broken trust.
In the latest episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, I break down real-world investigation failures—cases where things went sideways—and share the key lessons every HR pro should know.
✅ A supervisor was fired—without ever being interviewed✅ Investigation notes mysteriously “disappeared”✅ Bias derailed the fact-finding process
I also share my Top 5 Prevention Strategies to help you avoid these mistakes and build investigation processes that are ethical, defensible, and compliant.🔁 Share with your HR colleagues💬 Let me know in the comments: What’s one lesson you learned the hard way in an investigation?
#HumanResources #WorkplaceInvestigations #HRPodcast #EmployeeRelations #Compliance #HRInvestigations #Leadership #HRTips #NatalieIvey #PodcastPromotion
 
 

The Power of Persuasion in HR: A Conversation with Cindy Skalicky

Episode Title: The Power of Persuasion in HR: A Conversation with Cindy SkalickyHost: Natalie IveyGuest: Cindy Skalicky, Author of Red Light, Green Light
Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode, host Natalie Ivey sits down with messaging strategist and executive coach Cindy Skalicky to explore the power of persuasion in Human Resources. Whether you're presenting investigation findings to executives, coaching a challenging employee, or making a case for disciplinary action, how you deliver the message can make or break your influence.
Cindy shares insights from her bestselling book, Red Light, Green Light: How Top Leaders Present with Polish, Get Buy-in, and Become More Influential. Together, Natalie and Cindy unpack strategies HR professionals can use to build executive presence, craft compelling narratives, and communicate confidently—especially in high-stakes, high-pressure environments.
This episode is filled with real-world tips and practical tools that every HR professional should have in their communication toolkit.
Key Topics Covered:
Why persuasion is essential in HR roles
The HOW-TO Model for structuring persuasive communication
Using storytelling techniques without compromising objectivity
Building executive presence in high-stakes meetings
Real-life scenarios: Persuading leadership to act on difficult decisions
Cindy’s top advice for becoming a more influential communicator
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Red Light, Green Light by Cindy Skalicky
Link:https://www.amazon.com/Red-Light-Green-Buy-Influential-ebook/dp/B0FHGWNCPJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GB9RLOCY9LTS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.i59XGqpF9NPzikhokdwGt0uFCd1t24XDscAW795j6Ac.XSN7YFwfAWyZXH_iUnGBZNG8AcYeet66MI4mil9ycfI&dib_tag=se&keywords=red+light+green+light+book+cindy+skalicky&qid=1754580145&sprefix=red+light+green+light+cindy%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1
Subscribe & Share
Enjoyed this episode?✅ Subscribe⭐ Leave us a 5-star review📤 Share with a colleague who could use a persuasion boost!
Connect with Us
Host: Natalie IveyWebsite: https://www.rpchr.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieivey/
Cindy's Website: https://onpoint-communications.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-skalicky
Join Natalie Ivey for a live, 2-day virtual workshop:How to Conduct Internal Investigations – A Practical Workshop for HR ProfessionalsSeptember 23–24 | 🕚 11 AM – 5 PM ET | 📍 Via ZoomWalk through a mock investigation, learn credibility assessment techniques, and gain practical tools to handle even the toughest cases.Register by September 16 – Spots are limited!https://www.rpchr.com/events
 
 

Behind the Curtain: What Executives Need to Know About Internal Investigations

In this episode of The HR Investigations Podcast, host Natalie Ivey dives into a crucial but often overlooked area: the role of senior leadership in supporting internal investigations. Too often, HR teams are conducting complex and sensitive investigations without clear support or understanding from the C-suite—and that can spell disaster.
Natalie unpacks the most common misconceptions executives hold about the investigative process and how HR professionals can bridge this knowledge gap. From enterprise risk management to legal exposure and employee morale, investigations have ripple effects throughout the organization—and the C-suite needs to be tuned in.
Tune in to learn:
How to educate executives about HR’s role in investigations
Tips for presenting investigative findings to senior leaders with clarity and impact
What to include in your next leadership briefing on workplace culture and legal risk
Whether you're in HR, legal, or a leadership role yourself, this episode will equip you with the insights to elevate the investigative function in your organization—and ensure it gets the strategic attention it deserves.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Natalie Ivey on LinkedIn
Explore more episodes of The HR Investigations Podcast, specifically Seal of Honor: Leadership Accountability and Lessons from the Frontline https://rpchr.podbean.com/e/seal-of-honor-leadership-accountability-and-lessons-from-the-frontline/

Remote but Not Invisible: Investigating Misconduct in Hybrid and Remote Work Environments

Remote but Not Invisible: Investigating Misconduct in Hybrid and Remote Work Environments
Episode Highlights: As remote and hybrid work have become the norm, employee misconduct hasn’t disappeared—it’s just gone digital. In this episode, host Natalie Ivey unpacks the complexities of conducting internal investigations when your workforce is no longer down the hall but scattered across Zoom, Slack, and email threads.
Tune in to learn how to handle complaints in a virtual environment without compromising the integrity of your investigations. From digital evidence to virtual interviews, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for HR and employee relations professionals navigating misconduct in today’s dispersed workplace.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The key differences between remote and in-person investigations
Common complaints arising in hybrid and remote settings (harassment, time theft, digital communication conflicts, and more)
How to gather and preserve digital evidence with help from IT
Interviewing best practices for virtual environments
How to maintain confidentiality when employees are working from home
Mistakes to avoid when investigating remotely
Upcoming 2-day Virtual Investigations Workshop:Ready to sharpen your investigation skills?Join Natalie Ivey for a live, 2-day virtual workshop:How to Conduct Internal Investigations – A Practical Workshop for HR ProfessionalsJuly 23–24 | 🕚 11 AM – 4 PM ET | 📍 Via ZoomWalk through a mock investigation, learn credibility assessment techniques, and gain practical tools to handle even the toughest cases.Register by July 16 – Spots are limited!Visit www.rpchr.com or click the link in today’s show notes.
Resources Mentioned:
Register for the Workshop  https://www.rpchr.com/webinar/internal-investigations-virtual-event
Connect with Natalie Ivey on LinkedIn
Explore more episodes of The HR Investigations Podcast

If It's Not Written Down, It didn't Happen: How to Get Managers to Document

Natalie’s upcoming 2-day Virtual Investigations Workshop:
July 23-24, 202511:00 am – 4:00 pm
Details and registration link:
https://www.rpchr.com/webinar/internal-investigations-virtual-event
In this episode, podcast host Natalie Ivey discusses Key topics: 
Announcement of the release of the 2nd edition of Natalie Ivey’s book, How to Conduct Internal Investigations: A Practical Guide for Human Resource Professionals
Announcement of the upcoming 2-day virtual workshop: How to Conduct Internal Investigations: A Practical Workshop for HR Professionals on July 23-24 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.  The workshop will provide education on how to navigate tricky employee relations’ issues, how to assess when to open an investigation and when not to, how to prepare for and conduct effective witness interviews, how to gather and preserve evidence, and how to prepare a final investigation report.
Examine the issue of managers just not documenting employee behavior and performance issues.
Discuss the danger in firing an employee “At-will” without any sort of documentation and how an EEOC investigator sees it
Examine why it is critical to have documentation that supports an employee engaged in misconduct that violated organizational policy or that the employee wasn’t meeting performance expectations
Discuss the issue of managers failing to document employee issues, run to HR announcing they wish to fire an employee and then view HR as “the enemy” when HR pushes back on a termination of employment due to lack of documentation.
Identify root causes to managers failing to document
Explain the benefits of phone apps and tech shortcuts to help managers stay organized and minimize the burdensome task of memorializing notes of employee conversations.
Review several key solutions to improving managers’ documentation capabilities
Check out Natalie’s new book here:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Conduct-Internal-Investigations-Professionals-ebook/dp/B0F6W3CM8M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=85BSXHJNIJZD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fMSMv7BRFHw6ljJoBjP4uGljsUr8ocRRqCxTa6rWlSliyLb1ONDXw2uFskHFDMgJrFZYU6wBbZtWWt1f40QjEPHBqcKQLxThHAdG8qr7WYRjihInvDtQv5WKLxiNchk0ISvRSh3mVRHdpRjh0Xk1xOwGBrJJFKFS3nu6ZBJ2tPaRD5WxK2_S9j2qMo1FO37E_pjkwBF46P-zFuwxgvY-dQJmex4m-cgpkXKAbsvXSu4.Ycb0vQbtuKH2IaUhA4lKpd3uAreWsrft58a2JMMsVSw&dib_tag=se&keywords=natalie+ivey&qid=1748551923&sprefix=natalie+iv%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

When the Truth is Murky Navigating 'He Said, She Said' Investigations

Visit RPC HR for more information.
Check out Natalie's REVISED book How to Conduct Internal Investigations: A Practical Guide for Human Resource Professionals here:https://tinyurl.com/y39s7n77