Start here
Consultation
$250
60-minute call, same week scheduling.
- Triage the complaint or concern
- Assess legal exposure and urgency
- Recommend next steps, with or without further engagement
- An honest answer on whether you need an attorney
Workplace investigations
Independent workplace investigations for employers.
Luman Group in Long Branch, New Jersey, runs independent workplace investigations for employers nationwide, led by Meghan Davey, SPHR, a 20-year HR executive. Start with a $250 consultation. Standard investigations start at $1,500 and typically close in 5 to 10 business days.
24 hours
Every Luman Group consultation request gets a response within 24 hours.
3 to 7 witnesses
A typical Luman Group standard investigation interviews 3 to 7 witnesses, documented the same day.
Why a third-party investigator
Why does an independent investigator matter?
Matters involving senior leadership, HR, possible bias, several complainants or expected litigation benefit from an investigator with no stake in the outcome.
It supports the affirmative defense
Employers can defeat hostile work environment claims by showing they took reasonable care to prevent and correct harassment. A prompt, thorough, documented investigation by a qualified third party is strong evidence of that care.
It removes bias from the record
When the owner or an internal manager investigates, opposing counsel argues bias. An investigator with no stake in the outcome answers that argument before it's made.
It creates documentation at the time
Courts favor notes taken at the time of events over records rebuilt months later. Interviews are documented the same day, with the witness confirming their statement.
It captures inconsistencies
A trained investigator catches the witness who said "around 3 PM" on Monday and "after lunch" on Friday, and documents it when it happens.
It holds up under questioning
An investigation report matters only if the investigator can defend it under oath. A 20-year HR professional with a clear method has a credibility that an internal review lacks.
It guards against retaliation claims
The biggest risk after a complaint is often the retaliation claim that follows. A documented timeline, conclusions and response build the record you need.
Services and pricing
How much does a workplace investigation cost?
Published floor pricing. Actual engagements are scoped from there, and you know the cost before you agree to proceed.
Most common
Standard investigation
from$1,500
Per matter, typically 5 to 10 business days.
- Intake meeting with leadership
- Witness interviews, typically 3 to 7 witnesses
- Same-day documentation with witness acknowledgments
- Written findings and recommendations
- Outcome communication coaching
Higher complexity
Title VII or complex investigation
$4,500 to $7,500
Per matter, typically 2 to 6 weeks.
- Everything in a standard investigation
- A litigation readiness file organized for counsel
- Coordination with employment counsel
- EEOC position statement support if needed
Preventive
Manager training workshop
from$1,500
Per session. 2 hours, in person or virtual.
- A live group session for up to 25 managers
- Real scenarios from real cases
- Role-play of complaint intake conversations
- A manager quick-reference card
- Customized to your industry
How it works
What happens from the consultation to written findings?
Most standard investigations close within 5 to 10 business days. Title VII matters take longer because they need more rigor.
Consultation
A confidential 60-minute call to assess the situation. If a full investigation isn't the right call, you'll hear that, and what is.
Engagement letter
A one-page agreement covering scope, timeline, confidentiality and fee. No surprises.
Kickoff
An intake meeting with you, and counsel if involved, to confirm the complaint, identify witnesses and agree how to communicate.
Witness interviews
Typically 3 to 7 witnesses, scheduled within 5 business days, each documented the same day.
Findings and recommendations
A written report within 10 business days of the last interview. Plain English, specific findings, clear recommendations.
Outcome communication
Meghan delivers the findings to the people involved, or coaches your leadership through it.
from $1,500
A standard Luman Group investigation by a qualified third-party HR professional.
$4,000 to $8,000
What an employment attorney often charges to handle the same investigation.
Five figures and up
Where employment claim settlements and defense costs routinely land.
From colleagues
Why Meghan, specifically.
Meghan is a rare combination of operator and people strategist. She sees the business issue, the people issue, and the risk, often before others do.
Meghan's experience and expertise were instrumental in providing real-time solutions to increasingly complex HR situations. She balanced understanding the needs of the company with compassion for the employees.
Her flexibility to move from operations, to Employee Relations, to tax and state laws, is a truly remarkable ability. Meghan is extremely approachable, making any Open Door Policy truly work.
When should I bring in a third-party investigator instead of handling it internally?
Bring in a third party when the complaint involves harassment, discrimination or a protected class issue, when the conduct involves an executive or someone in HR, when the situation could result in litigation, when you've already received an EEOC charge, or when you want the protection of an objective record. For most owners, the right first move is the 60-minute consultation.
How fast can you start?
All consultation requests get a response within 24 hours, and most consultations happen the same week. Standard investigations typically begin within 3 to 5 business days of the engagement letter being signed. Active EEOC charges and imminent litigation are prioritized.
Do you work with my employment attorney?
Yes, frequently. When appropriate, Luman Group coordinates with employment counsel on scope, privilege, work product and document handling. Many investigations begin with a call between Meghan and the company's outside counsel.
Are investigations confidential?
Yes. Engagement letters include confidentiality terms. Witness interviews are conducted privately, and findings are shared only with the people you authorize. Privilege questions depend on how the engagement is structured, so Luman Group coordinates with your counsel when they matter.
What if the investigation finds something I wasn't expecting?
An honest investigation goes where the facts lead. If the findings include adverse information about an executive, a family member or an owner, they still get reported. How you act on the findings is your decision. The integrity of the report is not negotiable.
Are you a lawyer?
No, and intentionally so. Meghan is a 20-year HR executive, Head of HR for 10,000+ employees, a fractional CHRO across several industries, and an experienced workplace investigator. The investigation work product is HR work product, not legal advice.
What about matters that don't fit these categories?
Floor pricing covers most engagements. Unusual scope, like a multi-month, multi-location matter or dozens of witnesses, is quoted after the consultation. You always know the cost before agreeing to proceed.
Contact Luman Group
Tell us what's going on.
Send the form and Meghan will point you to the right-sized help, from a single template to a full HR partnership. Prefer to talk? Call or text.
- (929) 459-7160Call Luman Group
- Text (929) 459-7160Send us a text message
- meghan@luman-group.comEmail Meghan
- 219 Long Branch AvenueLong Branch, NJ 07740
Response within 24 hours
Talk through your situation.
The 60-minute consultation costs $250 and is the way to find out, plainly, whether you need a full investigation. Or call or text first.