Event Details

Quality workplace investigations are critical when HR professionals are presented with a complaint of sexual harassment or other workplace misconduct.  The consequences of an inadequate workplace investigation include:

• Loss of the Faragher/Ellerth affirmative defense in Title VII discrimination cases;
• The poor investigation being deemed evidence of a pretext for discrimination;
• Failure to discover and eliminate workplace misconduct;
• Liability to the Complainant or Respondent;
• Impaired employee morale and productivity; and
• Potential individual liability of the investigator.

Attorney Gene R. Thornton is the Principal of Thornton Workplace Investigations, LLC.  He has conducted over 60 investigations of numerous types, including sexual harassment, illegal discrimination of all types, theft of company property, wage/hour issues, and workplace injuries.  He is a member of the Association of Workplace Investigators, and has received over 50 hours of formal training in the field.  As a litigating employment law attorney, he represented both employers and employees, so he brings a balanced approach to the workplace investigations he conducts.  He co-authored Employment Termination Source Book: A Collection of Practical Samples published by SHRM.  He has authored/edited/legally reviewed hundreds of items of content for the SHRM web site, including 23 articles in the Employee Relations and Employment Law and Regulations disciplines of the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge.  He has published employment law articles in the Colorado Springs Business Journal and professional publications, and has taught continuing legal education seminars to other attorneys on the FLSA, FMLA, and USERRA.  He is a Certified Business Counselor for the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center.  He has twice testified as an expert witness.  His B.S. degree is from Northwestern University in Communication Studies in 1981 and his J.D. degree is from the University of Denver College of Law in 1985.  He is admitted to practice law in Colorado and before numerous federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Members and Guests Register Here

Students and Board Register Here

Location:

21C Library
1175 Chapel Hills Drive 
Colorado Springs, CO 80920