Master the legal frameworks and practical steps to conduct impartial, defensible workplace investigations that mitigate risk and protect your organization.
Workplace investigations are a critical tool for compliance and risk mitigation in employment law. In the course Workplace Investigations: Best Practices for Compliance, instructor Laura Soprana-Dec provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the legal and procedural complexities of internal and third-party workplace investigations. With a specific focus on California standards and federal statutes, this session equips attorneys, in-house counsel, and HR professionals with the knowledge necessary to fulfill their legal duties, protect organizational reputation, and foster a safe work environment.
The curriculum begins by establishing the legal framework governing investigations, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Participants will explore the high stakes of non-compliance, analyzing real-world examples and key case law to understand judicial expectations regarding fairness, thoroughness, and the timeliness of employer responses.
Key learning outcomes include:
The presentation concludes with best practices for post-investigation measures, such as determining appropriate corrective actions, delivering discipline, and documenting outcomes to prevent future liability. By the end of this course, professionals will possess clear guidance to continuously improve their workplace investigation processes and effectively mitigate legal risk.
Attorney at Law
Laura Soprana-Dec is a California barred attorney with over seven years of experience as an employment attorney with a background spanning private practice, government service, and academic mentoring. Ms. Soprana-Dec earned her J.D. cum laude from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She also holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Business Communication and Tourism Management from the University of Verona, Italy, both cum laude, with concentrations in English and German languages. In private practice, she practiced as an attorney at Jackson Lewis P.C., focusing on employment litigation, workplace investigations, and advance and counsel, and at Valla Morrison & Schachne, where she assisted advising international companies on business immigration matters and cross-border transactions, including corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and employment law counseling. Before law school, Ms. Soprana-Dec served as Director of the Work and Travel Program at ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, managing U.S. Department of State-regulated cultural exchange programs for university students from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Laura is a member of the California State Bar.
