At times during a workplace investigation it may be necessary to manage the expectations of managers especially senior managers. As an investigator you must take control and responsibility for the investigation.

In my experience management expectations/interference/demands comes in three forms;

1. Expectations around the process – how the investigation is conducted.
2. Expectations about the outcome – What they want.
3. Expectations around the timelines – How…

Workplace Investigations Uncooperative Complainants – at times during a workplace investigation you may have to deal with an uncooperative complainant, what should you do?

In my experience uncooperative complainants fall into 3 categories; (there may be more, but this is what I have encountered.)

1. Complainants who are concerned and even fearful of the process and their part in the investigation.
2. Complainants who know that their complaint is baseless and want…

Workplace Investigations Difficult Respondents – What can or should you do? – Remain calm and professional,  do not engage in arguments and stick to your interview plan/process.

At times during a workplace investigation, you may have to deal with difficult respondents. This can occur in a number of ways:

1. The respondent refuses/declines to attend an interview to discuss complaints/allegations made against them.
2. The respondent refuses/declines to answer questions…

Workplace Investigation Questions and the question of what and how to ask questions during an interview.

The interview is typically a means to gather evidence, to clarify points made in a complaint, to find out what people saw, heard or experienced and also an opportunity for the person who is the subject of the complaint to provide their side of the story.

There are two key elements to the actual interview that are of paramount importance – asking questions and listening to…