Lessons from 800+ Workplace Investigations with Meric Craig Bloch

Meric Craig Bloch is one of the world’s most respected voices in workplace and corporate investigations. With more than 25 years of experience as an attorney, compliance officer, and global head of investigations for Fortune 500 companies, he has led over 800 investigations worldwide, authored several books, and trained thousands of professionals.

He is also the founder of Winter Investigations and the creator of the Winter Method®, a structured framework designed to make investigations not just effective, but transformative for organizations.

In our recent webinar, Meric shared his career journey, the most important lessons he’s learned, and why the real value of investigations lies in strengthening business operations.

From Law to Investigations: A Defining Moment

Coming from a law enforcement family, Meric always felt drawn to investigative work. After starting his career as a lawyer, he soon found that corporate investigations allowed him to merge profession and passion.

One case in particular defined his path. While working as in-house counsel, he uncovered a $1.5 million vendor fraud scheme led by a company vice president. His investigation revealed deep process flaws and captured the attention of the board, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s office.

“You don’t lose $1.5 million unless a lot of things go wrong. That case showed me the power of investigations — and the responsibility to fix the business, not just catch wrongdoers.”

Investigations Across Industries

Over the years, Meric has led investigations in healthcare, tech, and large public companies. Each industry brings unique challenges:

• Healthcare: risks tied to billing accuracy, patient safety, and hierarchical cultures.
• Tech: fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where “fix it fast” mindsets clash with the need for analysis.
• Public companies: focus on financial accuracy and reputation, but often reluctant to “rock the boat.”

“The context changes, but the investigator’s role stays the same: find the truth, and help the business address the risks that matter.”

You can see the whole webinar with FaceUp and Meric in webinar on demand here.

What Makes a Great Investigator

When asked what separates good investigators from great ones, Meric points to four core values:

• Critical thinking — making both strategic and tactical decisions on the spot.
• Empathy — understanding motives without condoning actions.
• Respect — treating all parties professionally to gain trust.
• Preserving dignity — allowing people to admit mistakes without stripping self-respect. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Meric also outlined frequent pitfalls that derail workplace investigations:

• Acting like prosecutors instead of fact-finders.
• Mishandling whistleblowers or complainants.
• Poorly prepared or confrontational interviews.
• Failing to make a clear finding on policy violations.
   

These errors don’t just weaken cases — they damage trust and waste opportunities to learn.

The Winter Method®: A Structured Approach

To address these issues, Meric designed the Winter Method®, a six-stage framework that emphasizes clarity, efficiency, and business focus. It guides investigators through:

1. Debriefing the reporter.
2. Conducting a preliminary assessment.
3. Linking issues to company standards.
4. Choosing a resolution strategy.
5. Focused fact discovery and clear findings.
6. Delivering a comprehensive written report.
    

This consistency ensures investigations don’t spiral, but instead deliver actionable insights managers can trust.

Why Anonymous Reporting Matters

Meric is clear about the role of anonymous tools in modern investigations:

“If the choice is knowing anonymously or not knowing at all, I’d rather know. An investigator cares more about what you know and how you know it than about who you are.”

But he cautions organizations to design intake carefully. Many anonymous reports are “one-time only,” so if the first submission lacks detail, the opportunity is lost.

A Voice for the C-Suite

Investigations, when done well, also serve leadership. They don’t just resolve cases — they uncover risks, trends, and blind spots.

“Executives want advance warning, options, and insight. Investigators should act as honest brokers: neutral fact-finders who help leaders make better decisions.”

Advice & Vision

From 25+ years in the field, Meric’s advice is direct but powerful:

• Take care of yourself — investigations are emotionally taxing.
• Be a lifelong learner — avoid repeating bad habits.
• Get comfortable with discomfort — you’ll often deliver bad news.
• Always link findings to business improvements.

And if he had to summarize his philosophy in one sentence?

“Use both your heart and your head — because a good investigator needs both.”

Investigations as Drivers of Success

For Meric, investigations are not just about uncovering wrongdoing. They are about helping organizations become stronger, safer, and more resilient.

And that’s where FaceUp comes in. Our anonymous reporting and feedback platform helps organizations detect issues early, capture better insights, and empower investigators with actionable information — so problems are addressed before they escalate.

👉 Watch the full webinar with Meric Craig Bloch on demand here.

Learn More about Winter Investigations

Meric is the founder of Winter Investigations, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations strengthen operations through smarter workplace investigations.

Winter Investigations provides:

• Specialized consulting for public, private, and non-profit organizations
• Training programs for investigators and compliance teams
• The Winter Method® — a proven, structured approach to investigations
   

If you’d like to explore Meric’s methodology further, visit Winter Investigations.