How Long Can an Employer Workplace Investigation Take in Canada?

Canada has no single deadline for every employer investigation. The required timing depends on the jurisdiction, the issue being investigated, workplace policy, any collective agreement and the facts. Some official guidance sets benchmarks for particular investigations—for example, Ontario recommends completing a workplace-harassment investigation within 90 days or less unless a compelling reason requires longer—but that is not a universal national limit. A workplace investigation may concern harassment, violence, safety, discrimination, privacy, misconduct, fraud or a regulated professional obligation. Different statutes and policies can require different steps. Do not apply a harassment code’s timeline automatically to every performance or misconduct review.