HR Investigation | The effects of being falsely accused: What we can learn from the Post Office scandal

The Post Office Horizon scandal saw over 900 sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of theft due to a faulty computing and accounting system called Horizon.

Although the scandal has been well publicised since 2000, the recent ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, exposed the scale of the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice and the impact it had on those falsely accused and wrongly convicted. Many lost their jobs, homes, and lifesavings. Marriages broke down, and some families believe the stress led to ongoing health conditions, addiction and even suicide as some ex-workers found the impact of the scandal too much to bear.

The case emphasises the importance of following a fair and thorough process before taking any action against anyone alleged to have committed any misconduct within the workplace. We have put together some key points to observe in any investigation to ensure you do not make the same mistakes as the Post Office did.

Here’s what HR professionals and employers can learn from the Post Office scandal: