An integrated framework for disciplinary processes and the application of employee investigations

Although all employee disciplinary investigations are likely to carry some degree of stress, poorly delivered investigations that do not uphold due diligence to protect those involved can cause serious harm to individual employees, their colleagues, managers and organisations. This scoping review examined existing knowledge about disciplinary investigation processes, including factors that influence the experience of these processes and the associated outcomes. The authors then used these insights to develop an integrated framework to help employee investigations to be run well. The authors searched the Business Source Premier database, as well as conducting targeted journal searches and hand searches, guided by the expertise of an advisory group. A total of 741 papers were identified through systematic searches, of which 20 met the inclusion criteria. Several factors were found to influence the investigation process, including individual differences, organisational culture and procedural barriers. Identified outcomes of these processes included bias and discrimination, perceptions of procedural justice and psychological harm to the employee. There is a clear need for further research into this area of human resources policy and practice, and an opportunity for healthcare organisations to review their disciplinary policies and processes, taking a more people-centric and integrated approach.