Conducting Global Internal Investigations: Getting It Right Across Borders

Short summary

International workplace investigations require strict procedural compliance far beyond US norms. Employees hold statutory rights to be heard, accompanied, and given proper notice; jurisdictions enforce tight timing rules (France: 2 months to initiate, 1 month to impose). Procedural failures independently invalidate discipline regardless of substantive findings—local legal expertise is as critical as the conclusion itself.

• •Procedural compliance is legally binding in international investigations—process failures invalidate discipline independent of substantive findings
• •Employees have near-universal rights to notice, opportunity to respond, accompaniment (UK, France, Germany, India, South Africa), and cross-examination
• •Statutory deadlines govern action timing (France: 2 months; Brazil: 30+ days may constitute condonation); missing deadlines alone can void discipline

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.