West Central MN SHRM: The Legal Lowdown: Fall Edition (Thursday, October 01, 2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:45:00 GMT

10 Steps to Become a Workplace Investigation Pro . . . and 5 Mistakes to Avoid

This practical seminar starts by exploring when a workplace investigation is required, or may simply be the best next step, because of the law, an internal policy, disputed facts, serious misconduct, or the need to document what happened and figure out how to move forward. Participants will work through 10 practical steps for conducting an effective investigation, including preventing further incidents, preserving evidence, preparing and defining the scope, choosing an appropriate interview location, deciding the order of witnesses, taking accurate notes, asking thoughtful questions, assessing credibility, preparing a clear and thorough report, and staying consistent throughout the process. The program will also address five common mistakes to avoid during the process. A brief mock interview will help bring these principles to life and show how they can be used in practice.

Session Objectives:

Identify when a workplace investigation is required by law or policy, and when disputed facts, serious misconduct, or other issues make conducting an investigation the right choice.
Examine 10 practical steps for planning and conducting a fair, thorough, timely, and consistent workplace investigation.
Explore effective methods for preserving evidence, preparing interviews, sequencing witnesses, taking accurate notes, asking purposeful questions, and assessing credibility.
Recognize five common mistakes that can compromise impartiality, completeness, credibility, or the defensibility of an investigation.
Apply investigation principles by observing a brief mock interview.

Josh Heggem, partner at Pemberton Law in Fergus Falls, is a recognized expert in the practice of labor and employment law, is a Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Minnesota Bar Association, and has been named "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine every year since 2022. Josh's entire practice currently comprises of representing and advising public and private employers. In fact, employment and labor law has been a major concentration of Josh's work for the past 19 years. Workplace investigations have been a significant niche within his practice, and he has completed well over 200 of them. He is also experienced in handling labor negotiations on behalf of employers, conducting workplace trainings, and advising employers and Human Resources professionals on the myriad of issues they encounter on a daily basis, including conducting their own workplace investigations, contract issues, medical leaves, wage and hour, workplace misconduct, and employee separation issues. He grew up in Aitkin, Minnesota, and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota Law School.

West Central MN SHRM: The Midwest Nice Paradox: How Leaders Build High-Performance Cultures, Not Just Harmony (Thursday, November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 14:45:00 GMT

Program Summary

Are your most well-meaning employees quietly undermining productivity? In the pursuit of “Midwest Nice,” many companies unknowingly allow conflict to fester, leading to passive aggression, unresolved tension, and higher turnover. This session goes beyond surface-level niceties to uncover the behavioral science behind this unique cultural dynamic. You will learn to differentiate between performative “nice” and genuinely effective”kindness” to unlock a more transparent, high-trust workplace.

Leave this session with two immediately actionable strategies to elevate your conflict resolution from a perfunctory process to a powerful business driver. By transforming a potential weakness into a source of competitive advantage, you will not only foster psychological safety but also prove your value as a strategic HR leader.

Objectives

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

Diagnose the root cause of why traditional conflict management programs fail to gain traction in Midwest corporate cultures.
Strategically leverage the critical distinction between being “nice” and being “kind” to build a more resilient workforce.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Laura Janusik is a highly sought-after advisor to senior HR leaders, uniquely bridging the gap between communication science and strategic business outcomes. With a Ph.D. in Communication and an MBA, along with 15 years of hands-on experience in HR Management, she is an authority on leveraging strategic listening to resolve complex, culture-specific conflicts that impact productivity and retention.

As a trusted consultant, trainer, and coach, Dr. Janusik is known for translating decades of published research, cited in prestigious outlets like Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, into practical, immediately implementable strategies for high-performance teams.

Laura’s deep understanding of HR's challenges, combined with her expertise as a professor at Rockhurst University, positions her as a leader who can not only diagnose cultural pain points but also equip organizations with the skills to build more resilient, transparent, and profitable workplaces.

West Central MN SHRM upcoming events

West Central MN SHRM: The Legal Lowdown: Fall Edition (Thursday, October 01, 2026)

West Central MN SHRM: The Midwest Nice Paradox: How Leaders Build High-Performance Cultures, Not Just Harmony (Thursday, November 05, 2026)