When an employer receives a workplace complaint involving bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, or other serious misconduct, the legal obligation to respond begins immediately. The first 24 to 48 hours will determine whether the matter is handled properly or escalates into a Fair Work Commission application, a workers compensation claim, or reputational damage.
The 48-Hour Workplace Triage from Brookvale HR Solutions exists for that exact moment. Daniel Holbrook, a former Military Police Officer who holds a Certificate IV in Government Investigations, provides a structured senior-level complaint response within 48 hours. The engagement covers complaint assessment, risk classification and immediate containment, a written response framework, and clear guidance on whether a formal investigation is required.
A workplace complaint creates simultaneous obligations under the Fair Work Act and Work Health and Safety legislation. The employer’s response within the opening 48 hours sets the procedural baseline that any subsequent investigation, regulator, or tribunal will measure the entire matter against.
Fair Work Commission stop-bullying applications and workers compensation claims can be filed within days of the underlying conduct. A delayed or unstructured employer response narrows the available defences and increases settlement leverage on the complainant’s side.
The Fair Work Act 2009 requires reasonable steps to address complaints; WHS legislation imposes a separate duty to manage psychosocial hazards once a complaint surfaces. Both obligations attach the moment the complaint is received.
Responses that prejudge the outcome, breach confidentiality, or skip natural justice obligations create adverse findings independent of the underlying allegations. Procedural errors are the most common source of unfair-dismissal and adverse-action awards.
A 15-point gap analysis across your contracts, policies, and operational processes. $1,500 fixed fee, fully credited toward any follow-on work including investigations and triage retainers.
Every triage engagement follows a structured methodology designed to resolve the immediate workplace issue and give the employer a clear course of action. Daniel personally handles every step; there are no handoffs, no junior consultants, and no delays while someone else gets across the situation.
Review of complaint documentation, identification of core allegations, and assessment of immediate risk to the organisation and individuals involved.
Severity and urgency classification of the complaint with specific recommendations on immediate actions to take and to avoid.
A structured document outlining how to respond in a way that meets procedural fairness obligations and protects the organisation’s position.
Clear advice on who must be heard, what natural justice entails, and how to avoid procedural errors that expose employers to adverse findings.
Drafted communications for the complainant, the respondent, and any relevant witnesses or supervisors.
Daniel advises whether the matter requires a full workplace investigation, mediation, or informal resolution.
Daniel walks the business owner through every recommendation and the clear path forward to resolve the issue.
$2,500 covers the full triage engagement regardless of whether the complaint involves a single allegation or multiple allegations. Daniel personally handles every step. No hourly billing, no escalating invoices, no lock-in contracts. If the matter requires a full investigation, Daniel will advise on scope and pricing separately.
Book an urgent consultationAll prices exclude GST.
Daniel reviews the complaint documentation, speaks with the employer, and assesses the allegations and immediate risk profile. Within four hours of engagement, the employer has a clear picture of the complaint, the seriousness of the allegations, and whether immediate containment measures are required.
Daniel develops the written response framework: procedural fairness guidance, communication templates, and containment recommendations that meet legal obligations under the Fair Work Act and WHS legislation. Where appropriate, Daniel identifies whether the matter can be resolved through informal resolution, mediation, or whether a formal investigation is necessary.
Daniel conducts a debrief call with the employer, walks through all recommendations, and advises on next steps, including a separate scope and fee estimate if a full investigation is required. The employer leaves with a decision made on the immediate response, a clear resolution process, and confidence that the matter has been handled impartially.
A formal or informal complaint has been received and the employer needs structured guidance to resolve the workplace issue. Common situations include:
Further guidance on the employer’s legal obligations when dealing with workplace bullying and harassment is available from Safe Work Australia. If you are dealing with an active situation, call Daniel directly on 1300 23 44 23 or visit the contact page. Not sure whether the matter needs full triage or an informal assessment first? The Investigation Decision Tree on the Received a Complaint page walks through it in under two minutes.
Every workplace complaint must be handled with strict confidentiality. Daniel ensures that information is shared only with those who need to know, and that both the complainant and the respondent are treated fairly throughout the resolution process. Confidentiality reduces the risk of victimisation, which is a separate legal exposure under anti-discrimination law, and supports an environment where employees feel safe to raise concerns.
Procedural fairness requires that the respondent is given the opportunity to respond to the allegations before any decision is made. It also requires that the person dealing with internal complaints acts impartially and does not prejudge the result of the complaint. Daniel’s triage framework is built around these principles, ensuring that every action taken as a result of the complaint is defensible and proportionate.
“ We engaged Daniel from Brookvale HR Solutions to conduct an independent workplace investigation after an incident at a staff event. He managed the process quickly and fairly, interviewing staff, reviewing evidence and delivering a clear report with practical recommendations within a week. Daniel then helped us put those recommendations in place, which reduced risk to the business and helped restore calm within the team. ”
$2,500 fixed fee. 48-hour structured response. No lock-in contracts. Call Daniel directly to discuss the situation and engage the triage.
