When the team works remotely, so does the conduct. Complaints now arrive as chat logs, video-call recordings, comments in shared documents and messages sent after hours, from people who may be in different provinces.
I run independent investigations for remote and hybrid teams in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, with interviews held by secure video.
The fundamentals of a fair process stay the same. The practical risks are different.
Workplace safety obligations generally follow where the worker does the work. A team spread across provinces can mean more than one set of regulatory frameworks, and that is settled at scoping. Federally regulated employers fall under the Canada Labour Code instead.
Messages, channels and recordings can be edited, deleted or lost when an account is closed. Preserving them early is often the first practical step.
On a video call, nobody can see who else is in the room. Participants confirm they are alone and in a private space, and that the interview is not being recorded on their side.
Long video interviews are tiring, especially for someone who is anxious, neurodivergent or on leave. Sessions can be shorter, split across days, or supported with written questions in advance.
Interviews are held by secure video. With the participant's consent they are recorded on a device not connected to cloud storage and transcribed; where consent is refused, contemporaneous notes are taken instead.
Every participant receives a written process document in advance covering confidentiality, the right to a support person, how to request an accommodation, and the commitment against retaliation.
Where it is not yet clear a full investigation is needed, the Preliminary Review and Assessment reviews the written and digital record and recommends whether to proceed, for a fixed fee of $2,950.
Where the decision has been made, a full investigation runs from terms of reference to a written report. How an investigation runs →
A short, confidential call to understand the situation and the jurisdictions involved.
It can be, with the right safeguards: confirming the participant is alone and in a private space, recording with consent, and allowing breaks. Where a matter needs an in-person interview, that can be arranged.
Keep them. Avoid deleting channels or closing accounts belonging to anyone involved until the scope of any investigation is settled. Your counsel can advise on a formal preservation step.
Yes. The applicable regulatory frameworks are identified at scoping and set out in the terms of reference.