Most workplace complaints can be informally resolved if handled appropriately through facilitated discussions, mediation, coaching and training. However, when allegations of discrimination, harassment or retaliation have escalated to the point of a formal complaint either within your workplace or to an outside agency, you are legally required to conduct an investigation.
Bellingham Mediation & Consulting conducts neutral and thorough complaint investigations and reports. As a former equal opportunity administrator for three universities and a large public agency, and in her private practice, Sheri Russell has been conducting formal discrimination, harassment, retaliation and bullying complaint investigations since 2000. Her investigations have covered the full spectrum of complaints: discrimination and/or harassment based on a protected category, bullying, multiple allegations, complaints involving supervisors and high level administrators, multiple complainants, repeat offenders, controversial allegations, and subsequent allegations of retaliation following the initial complaints. All of her formal complaint investigation reports have received praise from employment attorneys and HR directors as being thorough, factually supported and with appropriate fact-based credibility assessments where necessary.
As a complaint investigator, Sheri acts as a neutral fact-finder to gather facts through in-person and telephone interviews and document reviews. She then determines whether the facts support the allegations and whether any workplace policies have been violated. Sheri’s conclusions and investigation reports are factually supported and may contain credibility assessments when appropriate. Sheri may provide recommendations and often works with organizations to address and resolve issues resulting from the complaint and/or the investigation, including training, policy revisions, supervisor coaching and post-investigation facilitated discussions.
Bellingham Mediation & Consulting maintains the utmost confidentiality with regard to all workplace conflict resolutions and formal complaint investigations.