Workplace Investigator Group Comes to NH

Whether it's an accusation of sexual harassment or of theft, when things hit the fan at work, someone must get to the bottom of it. That can be a difficult and isolating job, and finding advice can be tough.

But there's hope. The Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), an organization started in California in 2009 by Attorney Amy Oppenheimer, is opening a NH chapter. The association has several chapters in California and one in New York, says Oppenheimer, who also serves as president of AWI's board.

There is no other organization for people who conduct workplace investigations, she says.

And, if you're assuming the snooping must be done by attorneys, you're wrong. Workplace investigations are often conducted by HR professionals, or those from other backgrounds, even detectives, says Julie Moore, who sits on the board of AWI.

Moore is also president and founder of Employment Practices Group in Wellesley, Mass., and a member of the NH Bar Association for 20 years, and she has experience investigating sexual harassment claims against companies.

Oppenheimer says the association's 348 members include professional investigators, attorneys and HR professionals. Most people who do investigations work alone. You don't really have a place to meet colleagues and see how people do things and increase your skills, Oppenheimer says.

Moore says networking and sharing best practices are among the most valuable tools the association provides. In the HR field, people are often thrown into it [investigations] and need training, she says.

For more information, visit www.aowi.org or contact Moore at 603-490-9373 or jmoore@employmentpg.com.