Selecting an Investigator

You must select someone to serve as an investigator during the investigation process. This is the person who will conduct interviews and establish a trusting relationship with the complainant. It is also the person who will be in question should this complaint become a court case, so be sure to choose wisely.

This can be an internal individual or an outside company. When selecting an investigator, consider the following:

• The investigator's qualifications. If using an outside investigator, make sure they are a licensed attorney or a licensed private investigator.
• The complainant's level of comfort with the investigator. Is it possible that the person you are considering is not the person the complainant would feel comfortable with? For example, would the complainant prefer a female or male investigator?
• Does this person have any ties to the complainant or alleged harasser that would make them biased?
• Does this person have the expertise necessary for this specific case?

Please note that licensed HR consultants cannot conduct this investigation.

The rest of this section will be directed to you, the supervisor, as if you are the selected investigator.

To learn more about Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For Supervisors visit our Cal/OSHA Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For Supervisors Online Training web page.