Investigating Sexual Harassment Claims: What You Need to Know Before the EEOC Comes Knocking
Sexual harassment investigations require a delicate approach. Tricky issues include the gender of the investigator, office romances gone sour and the classic “he said, she said” complaints. Sensitive questions about flirting, touching and sex must be handled with care. Frequently, investigators back away from asking these difficult questions simply because they don’t know what to say or how to make the witness comfortable. Learn from an experienced investigator how to handle these complicated and delicate investigations.
Allison West, Esq., SHRM-SCP, AWI-CH
Allison West is an employment attorney by background and for over 20 years has assisted employers in creating and maintaining safe and respectful work environments.
She focuses her practice on delivering customized workplace training, conducting workplace investigations, coaching executives/managers concerning performance or disciplinary issues as well as leadership topics, and serves as an expert witness. Allison also specializes in using her mediation skills to help individuals and groups to work through conflicts and create more collaborative work environments.
Allison is a top-rated speaker at the SHRM Annual Conference as well as other HR/diversity conferences, and is a national expert on harassment, discrimination and investigations. She has appeared on PBS, CBS This Morning and in O Magazine discussing workplace harassment issues.
She is a member of the State Bar of California and holds her SHRM-SCP certification and AWI-CH (investigation) certificate.