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HR's Hardest 1:1s
Workplace Investigation Interviews
A practical template for fair, objective workplace investigations.
Investigation interviews shape trust, compliance, and decision-making.
Use this template to prepare before you walk into the room.
What's at stake
Every investigation interview should answer three questions:
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What happened?
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What facts support it?
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What still needs to be verified?
If you're leaving with assumptions instead of facts, the investigation isn't finished.
The context
Phase 01
Before you walk into the room
Review what you already know
Complaint or concern
Timeline of events
Relevant documents or evidence
Plan your questions
Before the meeting, be able to answer:
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Prepare open-ended questions that help people explain events in their own words.
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Don't prepare questions that lead them to an answer.
Check yourself
Ask:
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Am I looking for facts or confirmation?
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Have I separated evidence from assumptions?
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Would someone else ask these questions the same way?
Phase 02
During the conversation
Start with the process
Explain
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Why you're meeting
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Your role in the investigation
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What today's conversation will cover
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What happens after today's discussion
Avoid discussing conclusions.
Ask
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Can you walk me through what happened?
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What did you personally observe?
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When did this happen?
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Who else may have relevant information?
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Is there anything we've missed?
Phase 03
Before you finish
Confirm:
Key facts
Dates and timelines
Any evidence mentioned
Next steps
Phase 04
After the conversation
Document
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Who attended
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Timeline discussed
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Facts shared
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Evidence referenced
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Questions still outstanding
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Follow-up actions
Record what was said—not what you believe happened.
What to avoid
Record what was said — not what you believe happened.
Workspace
Prep checklist
Tick as you go. Add notes you'll want in the room.
Timeline reviewed
Evidence gathered
Open-ended questions prepared
Investigation process explained
Next steps planned
Documentation ready
New
Meet Haven
Don't let your notes become another task.
You've prepared for the conversation. Haven takes care of what comes after.
Leave every conversation with:
Conversation summary
A structured summary of what was discussed.
Action items
Clear next steps, owners, and follow-ups.
Confidential record
A secure record you can revisit whenever you need it.
See Haven in action
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