What happens at a investigation meeting?
James Williams
Updated on April 04, 2026
Investigations are fact-finding exercises that collect relevant information on a matter. Investigation meetings provide an opportunity for an investigator to interview someone who is involved in, or has information on, the matter under investigation.
What to do if HR is investigating you?
What to Do When You Are Being Investigated at Work
- Keep your appointment with the investigating committee. Your manager, HR, and any other neutral party could be involved.
- Listen.
- Consult a lawyer.
- Share your side of the story and offer proofs.
- Do not retaliate.
- Ask to understand your options.
How long should an investigation meeting take?
Some investigations might take longer depending on the case and how many people need to give information. For example, a simple case might only take a day to gather enough information, whereas a more complicated case could take several weeks.
How do you prepare for an investigation meeting?
Before your disciplinary or dismissal meeting, ask to see all the evidence from your employer’s investigation. The evidence might include witness statements, emails or other documents. If you have not had enough time to consider your employer’s evidence and prepare your case, you should ask for more time.
What are the steps to an investigation?
Six steps for successful incident investigation
- STEP 1 – IMMEDIATE ACTION.
- STEP 2 – PLAN THE INVESTIGATION.
- STEP 3 – DATA COLLECTION.
- STEP 4 – DATA ANALYSIS.
- STEP 5 – CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.
- STEP 6 – REPORTING.
What is the difference between an investigation meeting and a disciplinary meeting?
What is the difference between an investigatory interview and a disciplinary interview? Essentially, the purpose of an investigatory interview is to establish what happened, while the purpose of a disciplinary interview is to decide what to do about it.
What are the steps in an investigation?
What should an investigation report include?
Top 10 Investigation Report Must Haves
- Information to Identify the Case: Begin the report with case specific information that identifies the case the report is related to.
- Referral Source:
- Allegation Details:
- Information About the Subject:
- Investigation Scope/ Purpose:
- Case Notes:
- Interview Summaries:
- Interview Reports:
When to interview the subject of an investigation?
Interviewing the Subject In most cases, the subject of an investigation will be interviewed after the complainant has already been questioned. It’s natural for a person who has been accused of misconduct to behave defensively. When interviewing the subject, an investigator should treat the person fairly and with respect.
Can a person be accompanied to an investigation meeting?
There is no general legal right for an employee to be accompanied at an investigation meeting however you may consider this as an important adjustment for employees who may be unwell, have a disability or whose first language is not English.
How to interview a witness in an investigation?
The truth often lies somewhere in between, and other witnesses are integral sources of information to balance the facts. Interviewing witnesses is similar to interviewing the complainant and accused. Consider carefully the purpose of the meeting with each witness and tailor the interview and the questions asked to that purpose.
What happens to an employee during an investigation?
[Jonathan] Employees have a general right to know about the status of the investigation but not necessarily whom has been interviewed or the basis for the employer’s credibility determinations.