An employee who has a complaint may claim discrimination, harassment, misconduct by a co-worker or supervisor, or any of a variety of other allegations that could lead to disciplinary action or even litigation. Ensuring that the human resources department responds to all complaints promptly and thoroughly reduces the chance of employee lawsuits and helps to foster an atmosphere of respect and trust. For many types of complaints, planning an internal investigation should be one of the first steps HR takes. Outside investigations are an alternate option, but employers should be aware that they are subject to some special disclosure rules.