Interviewing those people accused of harassing someone else can be at the very least difficult or at the worst, dangerous. Knowing how to handle this type of interview can resolve issues quickly and mitigate retaliation efforts.
Follow these guidelines:
- Review 5 Interview Techniques for Harassment Claims.
- Setup the interview using two investigators if possible.
- Expect the interviewee to be highly reactive to the complaint.
- Explain the purpose of the interview.
- Reiterate that no decision has been made in with this claim, that the investigation is ongoing.
- Identify the person making the claim.
- Provide specific charges of the complaint.
- Ask for the harasser’s response to each of the specific charges.
- Do not let the interview digress into character and other non specific rhetoric.
- Ask for witnesses.
- Assess the harasser’s credibility.
During the interview, you should be taking copious notes, remaining professional and asking appropriate follow-up questions. Failure to collect sufficient information in this phase may create a liability issue for not handling the interview process correctly. It may also add to the claimant’s credibility if litigation occurs. Don’t let this happen to you. Handle the interview with care!
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Interviewing victims, harassers, and witnesses is always challenging.
