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The Trauma-Informed Investigator's Toolkit

Your Guide to Empathy-Driven Workplace Investigations

Workplace investigations can be fraught with challenges.

Participants often feel unheard, retraumatized or unsupported, leading to distrust and emotional harm. HR leaders face the daunting task of creating a fair and respectful process while navigating legal obligations and organizational expectations.

When participants feel unsafe or disregarded, investigations can escalate into legal disputes, fractured relationships or even loss of valuable employees. The stakes are high—not just for the individuals involved, but for the organization’s culture and reputation.

Our Trauma-Informed Investigator’s Toolkit equips HR leaders with the tools to approach every intake process with empathy and fairness. Grounded in proven principles built from hundreds of investigations, this resource helps you reduce the risk of retraumatization, build trust and ensure a respectful experience for complainants and respondents.

What You’ll Learn:

  • The 5 principles of trauma-informed care and how to apply them to intake processes.
  • Practical steps to create safe, transparent and collaborative interactions.
  • How to avoid common pitfalls that erode trust or exacerbate trauma.
  • Answers to frequently asked questions, including managing confidentiality and balancing professional boundaries.

Download your copy of the Trauma-Informed Investigator’s Toolkit

“Barker Hutchinson has a professional reputation for coming to the right conclusions.”

– EMPLOYMENT LAWYER