BY-THE-BOOK WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS Investigator Toolkit · 03

Launch the Strategy

Investigation Plan

The salient plan on one tool — enough to run a matter through the exercise from characterization to close. Scope it before you interview anyone, and measure conduct against your policy, not the law.

AMatter & Parties
Matter / case #
Investigator
Target completion
Complainant — name, role
Respondent — name, title
BCharacterize — the Two Gates
Gate 1 — Characterize. Which kind of matter is this?
The complainant's "why" — why they believe they were treated this way
If protected class — which tier
Gate 2 — The paramount question

"If proven true, exactly as described, would it violate our policy?"

Policy at issue
CAllegations & Claim Type
Claim type — check all that apply
Description of alleged conduct — capture the claim precisely

The specificity here decides the analysis later — "I applied and wasn't selected" is a different claim than "less-qualified people got the jobs."

DClaim Elements → Evidence

Map each element you must establish to the evidence that proves or disproves it. Use your Elements of Proof — Workplace EEO reference. Measure against policy.

ElementEvidence neededStatus
EComparative Analysis

For differential treatment, disparate impact, or retaliation.

Similarly situated — same protected status
Comparators — different status: how treated differently, and the evidence

The pretext question: were the comparators actually similarly situated?

FInterviews & Witnesses

Sequence matters — complainant first, respondent after you know the facts, witnesses to fill gaps. Pairs with your Interview Guide & Summary.

NameParty — C / R / WKey topicsDone
GEvidence to Gather
Item / documentSourceMethodPriority
HTimeline & Tasks
TaskOwnerDueStatus
IReport Model & Interim Measures
Report model

The Internal Investigation Report is required under either model.

Interim measures