Personnel Investigations

Federal and State law require an employer conduct a reasonable and independent investigation into allegations of workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, and take appropriate corrective action as appropriate consistent with the investigation results. Depending on the circumstances, a reasonable investigation can vary from a manager or HR staff inquiring into a minor incident, to hiring an independent outside investigator or attorney for allegations of serious misconduct and/or involving high level personnel. A fair unbiased investigation is also essential to defending a subsequent lawsuit or employee discipline.

ZLF has conducted 100s of fair impartial workplace misconduct investigations for our client/employers, many involving high level executives and elected officials, as well as discipline investigations for police and fire personnel in compliance with California's Peace Officers and Firefighter Bill of Rights Acts:

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2023): Investigated allegations that a Police Captain harassed and bullied a subordinate Sergeant due to his age. Not sustained. (City and Captain M.K.)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2018): Investigated allegations that an elected official expended excessive funds for a combined personal/professional trip. Sustained. (District Board Member)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2022): Investigated allegations that an elected official demonstrated poor judgment and violated ethics rules when viewing graphic pornographic material on a public computer in a city library. Sustained. (City and Elected Official)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2020): Investigated allegations that a Police Lieutenant severely sexually harassed a citizen volunteer by sending her lewd photos, texts, and social media posts. Sustained. (City and Lt. A.D.)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2022) Investigation Police Officer allegations that he was wrongly given low ratings on a performance evaluation for failing to comply with quotas. Not sustained, finding that no unlawful quota had been required and the officer had numerous areas of substandard performance. (City and Officer J.H.)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2024) Investigation City employee allegations that the City and HR harassed and bullied her, and failed and refused to accommodate her ergonomic needs. Not sustained, finding that the City had gone to great lengths to accommodate the employee, but her worsening medical condition was causing her to behave erratically at work, and she then refused to come to work. (City and K.K.)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2023) Investigated City Police Officer’s allegations of discrimination and retaliation against him due because he was Black. Not sustained, finding that the Officer had not been subjected to any adverse employment actions and, had just been promoted to Sergeant. (City and Sgt. D.S.)

Confidential Personnel Investigation: (2021) Investigated allegations of firefighter’s off duty drunk, disorderly, and threatening conduct, resisting arrest, and making inappropriate comments. Sustained. (City and Firefighter J.T.)

Files coming soon.