Writing Investigative Reports: Evaluating Interviewee Credibility, Reaching Conclusions and Minimizing Harassment Liability

OVERVIEW

Investigative report writing actually begins from the very beginning of your investigation and continues throughout the process. This webinar will discuss the intricacies of writing the critical final report of your investigation that may be discoverable (all documents that must be provided to opposing counsel in case of a lawsuit) if an employee files a formal charge with the EEOC or your state’s human rights department, or if you are sued. A number of critical actions are required as part of your investigation.

These include determining interviewee credibility, corroborating evidence and reaching a conclusion. For investigative report writing, investigators must make a decision as to whether the investigated misconduct was a violation of any laws or policies and present these findings in an objective, accurate and concise manner.

An in-depth comprehensive investigative report memorializes the investigation, and can be evidence that an investigation actually occurred, which helps you in minimizing liability.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND

• In my experience as an expert witness for harassment, discrimination, and bullying lawsuits, human resources professionals do not know how to do an investigation and do not know the importance of final report and how to write a final report which is critical to ensure employees’ civil rights are not compromised.
• Knowing how to write a formal investigative report may save a tremendous financial burden on the organization due to the issues outlined in the first bullet.
• An investigation that is not documented basically did not occur.

AREAS COVERED

Webinar will :

• Discuss the critical elements of investigative report writing
• List frequently missing elements from reports
• Appraise interviewee credibility
• Describe how to reach conclusions
• List required follow-up actions

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The attendees will :

• Receive an in-depth outline of the critical elements in an investigative report and will learn the dos & don'ts of documentation
• Learn what needs to be documented regarding credibility of each witness, target, and accused
• Learn how to corroborate evidence
• Learn how to draw conclusions
• Learn how to include all of this in the investigative report writing for minimizing liability

WHO WILL BENEFIT

• This is a must attend webinar for human resources professionals in all industries
• Attorneys
• External Investigators