Are there any essential advisories that a witness should be given during an investigative interview?
Yes. Every witness should be advised to keep the investigative interview and process confidential; that the witness statement will be kept confidential to the extent possible and will be revealed only on a need-to-know basis; that employees who bring a complaint or participate in an investigative interview are protected from retaliation under the employer’s policies and the law, and that retaliatory behavior should be reported if it occurs; that although the witness is not under oath, he or she is expected to answer questions truthfully; and finally, that the witness is not entitled to representation during the interview unless he or she is a union member.
