Page 10 - Harassment Investigations Booklet
P. 10
8
Best Practices for
Effective Investigations
In addition to the use of a trained investigator, we recommend the following best practices for effective investigations of employee complaints:
• An investigation should be undertaken as soon as possible after the complaint has been made.
• The investigator should be impartial and neutral in his or her approach to the investigation.
• Every effort should be made to respect the confidentiality of the participant and witnesses, without compromising the ability of the investigator to discover facts and to fully explore all allegations.
• The investigator should have a plan for the investigation, including order of witnesses and lists of questions. It is often necessary for the investigator should have a privileged discussion with internal
or external counsel regarding the plan and the questions to be asked.
