Conducting Workplace Investigations

Discrepancies

It is likely that an investigator will face discrepancies in the accounts of others, such as the ones presented in the case study. These discrepancies often go to the heart of what the investigation itself is attempting to resolve. The investigator needs to review what he or she has been told and by whom, and determine which of these inconsistencies or discrepancies either are unlikely or are believable. The credibility of each witness needs to be evaluated. The investigator needs to decide if these inconsistencies are a result of poor memory, misperception, or deception.

The investigator also needs to decide if any of these inconsistencies or discrepancies need to be addressed. One way to do this is to let the witnesses know about ...