Before you launch a workplace investigation, take the time to plan out how you will conduct your interviews. They will lay the groundwork for everything that will follow.
This article highlights key aspects of an investigation's interview process, from questions to ask to the timing of the investigation. A subsequent article will focus on confidentiality issues arising during investigations.
The planning process for these interviews "does not have to be protracted, but it does need to be thorough," said Martha Boyd, an attorney with Baker Donelson in Nashville, Tenn. "Having a basic outline of your investigatory process, an initial list of witnesses, and an initial review of documents and videos on the front end can save you a lot of time on the back end."
Gather Witnesses and Information
Normally, an investigator starts with a core group of witnesses and then may identify others who they believe have relevant information. "As you start to interview those people, you may realize that they do not have relevant information; their information is cumulative from what you've heard from other people; or they have information that, while interesting, is unrelated to the subject of your investigation," Boyd said.
There's often a temptation to veer off into other topics, particularly if the investigator recognizes the potential for legal liability to the employer, but the investigator needs to resist that inclination and stay focused. "That said, definitely note what you learn...
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