Emotional Neutrality in Domestic Inquiries: A Survival Guide for HR and Inquiry Officers
The Reality of the Inquiry Room Anyone who has sat in the chair of an Inquiry Officer or represented management in a domestic inquiry knows the heavy atmosphere of that room. It is rarely just about facts, documents, or clauses in standing orders. A domestic inquiry is an intensely charged environment where livelihoods, reputations, and egos collide. When an employee faces allegations of gross misconduct, insubordination, or fraud, their defense often shifts from procedural explanations to emotional outbursts. Accusations of bias, personal insults, veiled threats, or passive-aggressive hostility across the table are common. For the HR professional or appointed Inquiry Officer, the immediate human instinct is either to become defensive or to assert authority aggressively to regain control. Both reactions are traps. Reacting emotionally not only compromises the integrity of the proceedings under the principles of natural justice, but it also takes an immense mental toll. You leave ...
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