Workplace Investigations - Witnesses Interviews

Speaker: Teri is the founder and President of Hindsight Human Resources Teri Morning, MBA, MS, specializes in solving company "people problems."

Overview

The assigned investigator in many workplaces is often an already overburdened employee to whom another time consuming project is now assigned, often to their dismay. This investigator may have had little to no training in how to perform investigations. Or they may have had training in the process of investigatory mechanics but never actually performed an investigation. In theory, investigatory interviewing sounds easy but in reality, it's often not.

Areas Covered

• When are employees entitled to representation during an investigation?
• How to prepare and what to do before an interview.
• Organizing your interview so you can ask good questions.
• Strategies for the reluctant witness.
• The angry "hothead". Dangerous or something else?
• What about tape-recording: Is it a good idea?
• Body language: Can you tell if a witness is giving false or skewed testimony? Developing behavioral baselines.
• Considering cultural diversity.
• The note taker and their role.
• Taking notes and pacing the interview.
• Starting and ending your interview.
• Educating all parties about retaliation.
• What about witnesses that are not your employee? Tips for customer complaints and joint employment interviews.

Who Will Benefit

• Anyone who has to do investigations, fact findings, or solve employee relations problems and disputes.
• Plant Managers
• Front Line Managers
• HR Managers
• Branch Managers
• Those with Employee Relations positions