Private Client

Independence and transparency are two necessary components to ensure a full facts investigation is fair, objective and provides evidence for informed decision-making to bring any matter in dispute to a conclusion. 

Managing risk is to make decisions based on full facts. Conducting an employment investigation internally is not always a practical or appropriate solution. External counsel and specialist consultants play an important part in ensuring it is the full facts on both sides that are presented at the earliest stage. With no bias to either party, our investigations are free from interference and withstand robust legal and regulatory scrutiny.

Workplace investigations present considerable risks for employers. HR investigations have to be handled fairly and employers should follow ACAS guidance on disciplinary and grievance matters. The mishandling of an employment investigation can be subject to future scrutiny should the matter result in a tribunal claim. T

he failure to follow a proper and consistent process can adversely affect defences to tribunal claims, especially in matters of unlawful discrimination, detriments on the grounds of whistleblowing, data protection breaches and defamation.

At Carmar Consultants, our workplace investigators are qualified criminal investigators with substantial experience in internal conduct and performance investigations. Our investigators are specialist advanced interviewers, applying the principles of Achieving Best Evidence [2022] discretely into fact finding enquiries, and robustly questioning those subject to such enquiries. 

Our investigations exceed the minimum requirements set out in ACAS guidance to ensure the regardless of outcome, workforce relations are maintained through open, ethical and transparent information sharing.

Our workplace investigations teams are led by a practicing Barrister with over two decades experience in criminal and civil investigations and procedural compliance. 

Our comprehensive independent investigations cover all manner of workplace disputes and allegations including, but not limited to:

• Whistleblowing
• Grievance and disciplinary matters
• Bullying, harassment and professional conduct
• Post Incident Management following serious incidents
• Serious breaches of company policies &  procedures concerns 

Our service provision, technical knowledge and experience provides:

• Securing and preserving evidence  subject to agreed terms of reference
• Conducting complainant interviews 
• Conducting witness interviews
• Conducting subject interviews
• Matters involving criminal proceedings
• Production of an investigation report, exceeding ACAS standards
• Unlimited client conferences
• Unlimited client correspondence

Regardless of the size of your organisation, we can help. We have a wide range of payment options. For more information about our workplace investigation services, contact us. 

 Mediation is a flexible and confidential process used to settle a dispute between two or more people, businesses or other organisations.

It involves appointing a mediator, who is an independent and impartial third person, to help the parties talk through the issues, negotiate, and come to a mutually agreeable solution.

You can mediate before taking legal action or while legal action is ongoing.

What are the benefits?

Unlike in court, where a judge makes the decisions, in mediation those involved are able to decide how they want to resolve the dispute, and neither has to accept an outcome they are not happy with.

Mediation is usually much quicker and much less expensive than going to court, so it can be a more efficient way of resolving disagreements that allows everyone to move on from the problem sooner.

Mediation provides a safe and supportive environment. The mediator will listen to all views, talking to you privately, and sometimes together with the other party, to help guide you through the process.  Mediation is confidential. Where disputes are resolved through the court, it is potentially a very public process. 

Mediation can help preserve your relationships. Settling a dispute through an adversarial court battle can put added pressure on the relationship between both parties. However, mediation helps  focus on communicating effectively with each other to find solutions that work for all.

Why us?

Our qualified mediators have over a decade of experience acrting as mediators.  Our mediators have professional backgrounds such as barristers, solicitors, HR consultants and Senior Civil Servants.  Biographies are available on request.   For more information about our mediation services, contact us. 

Mystery shopping is used by companies all over the world to measure service quality and regulatory compliance. The discrete and confidential process provides very real insights into service delivery.

Our mystery shopping service is bespoke. Our data production specific to our clients needs. Our approach is both proactive and reactive. We can test service delivery and consistency by assessing performance against key performance metrics. Additionally, we can manufacture situations to assess service response. Our mystery shopping service is available to the following industries, worldwide:

• Automotive
• Transport
• Travel
• Hospitality
• Local Government and Public Services

For more information about our performance improvement services, contact us.