Complaint Investigation Interviews – How to Handle Employee Fear, Anger & Deception

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Interviewing alleged wrong-doers, complainants and witnesses is the key to a successful complaint investigation – and it’s fraught with emotional and legal pitfalls. How and when do you break the news to the purported wrong-doer about the allegations? How do you handle reluctant or hostile witnesses, or conflicting information? What should you do when you believe someone is lying? What techniques can you use to get your witnesses to speak candidly and truthfully?

This fast-paced session uncovers the most common pitfalls and best practices in conducting investigative interviews. You’ll walk away with practical skills and some handy work scripts to use in your next investigative interview. In this 90-minute session, participants will learn how to:

1. Carefully prepare for an investigation interview
2. Effectively answer common questions interviewees raise: Will I be fired? Will the alleged wrongdoer be fired? Why are you talking to me?
3. Avoid loaded, leading, compound and accusatory questions
4. Use new techniques to get more detailed information from witnesses

Other topics include:

• Handling logistical issues surrounding the interview
• Dealing with different types of witnesses – shy, hostile, reluctant
• Effectively using documentation or other evidence
• Understanding how much information to provide to the alleged wrongdoer or other witnesses

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:  Allison West, Esq., SPHR, has a simple approach to employment practices: be proactive. After practicing law at a San Francisco labor and employment boutique, Allison decided to use her employment law background, coupled with sound knowledge of human resource practices, to provide proactive risk management services aimed at helping companies both prevent and resolve employment claims. Allison is a frequent speaker at national and location human resources as well as industry and diversity conferences. She also specializes in creating and delivering customized in-house employment law and human resources training programs to small, medium and large companies serving a variety of industries. Some of her clients include Chiquita Brands, Kyocera America, SanDisk, Kodak EasyShare Gallery, Sharp Hospital, Barclays Global Investors and Portola Pharmaceuticals. Allison is a member of the State Bar of California and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification.

HRCI CERTIFICATION: This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage.

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: We're so confident you'll get what you want out of this conference that we'll refund your full fee if you’re not satisfied. It's risk-free.