Investigation Essentials: Introductory Training  

Maintaining a healthy work environment is essential for organizational success. Workplace investigations play a crucial role in ensuring fairness, addressing employee concerns and upholding legal and ethical standards. Investigation Essentials is an interactive, virtual training course led by VM Mastered — a best-in-class investigation training company — designed to provide the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills you need to conduct thorough, impartial and defensible investigations.  

This course consists of three, 2.5 hour virtual and interactive workshops, that will include engaging discussions, breakout activities and live questions. Learners will have the opportunity to create an investigation plan, conduct interviews, evaluate evidence and practice report writing skills through a series of hypothetical scenarios. Participants will also receive an interactive Participant Workbook with key resources. 

Course Overview:  

Cost: $350   

• Exclusive for HR Acuity Customers: Register two team members and get a third for free! Please contact mmulvey@hracuity.com to get your third person registered.  

PDC: Earn 6 SHRM and HRCI recertification credits for attending  

Capacity: 250 participants  

Registration: To sign up, you must be a member of empowER. Joining is fast, easy and free. 

Workshop 1: December 2, 12:00 – 2:30 PM ET 

• Investigations Fundamentals  

• Planning The Investigation  

Workshop 2: December 9, 12:00 – 2:30 PM ET 

• Collecting Evidence   

• Evaluating The Reliability of Evidence   

Workshop 3: December 16, 12:00 – 2:30 PM ET 

• Documenting Analysis & Findings  

• Investigation Conclusion   

This course is structured as a three-part training, with each workshop building on the previous one. Therefore, full, live attendance is required to ensure a valuable experience for all participants.  

Audience: This workshop is intended for employee relations professionals, human resources professionals, supervisors and others who conduct or oversee workplace investigations. Investigation Essentials is an introductory course developed in partnership with HR Acuity — specifically designed for employee relations professionals who are new to workplace investigations or those looking to formalize and enhance their existing skills. 

If you have any questions, please contact mmulvey@hracuity.com. 

About the Instructors: 

Eli Makus, AWI-CH serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. Eli is committed to helping new investigators learn the practical skills necessary to conduct effective, high-quality, defensible workplace investigations. Eli’s training style is engaging and practical, with a focus on student involvement. Eli is a Senior Partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and the Firm Managing Partner. Eli conducts and manages neutral, unbiased investigations of complex and sensitive matters. Eli has conducted investigations involving employees at all levels of the organization, including executives, managers and front-line staff in union and non-union environments. Eli trains and speaks extensively on conducting workplace investigations. Prior to serving as an external investigator, Eli served as in-house employment counsel, where he conducted investigations and advised Human Resource professionals on internal investigations.  

Sue Ann Van Dermyden, AWI-CH, serves as one of VM Mastered’s Instructors. She thrives on delivering engaging, dynamic, interactive and entertaining training sessions designed to enhance learning and retention. Sue Ann is a founder and Senior Partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and Managing Partner of VM’s San Diego Office. Sue Ann began as an employment litigator in 1993. Since 2006, her practice has focused on conducting workplace and Title IX investigations. She also provides expert witness testimony on employment matters. Sue Ann has authored numerous articles on employment law and conducted countless training seminars.  

About VM Mastered: 

VM Mastered is a division of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, a leading law firm in conducting workplace and campus investigations in the nation. VM Mastered is a best-in-class investigation training company that provides solutions designed to enhance the investigation skills of those conducting investigations. We develop customized programs that reflect the unique industry, processes, and policies of each organization we train. VM Mastered prioritizes innovative content development, exceptional materials, and skilled Instructors who have years of investigative experience.