June 27 - Personnel

Workplace Investigations

It’s inevitable that employers must investigate one or more of their employees, and a thorough investigation means leaving no stone unturned. Whether it’s for alleged substance abuse, job safety violations, workplace theft, discrimination or harassment, a properly-conducted investigation can be a powerful tool for discovering workplace problems and mitigating or even preventing related liability.

As an employer, it’s important to understand investigation best practices, including interview techniques, proper documentation and reporting, communication dos and don’ts and records retention. At the end of the day, proper investigations protect employers and lay the foundation for the defense of litigation.

Specific topics included:

• Investigation best practices
• Witness interview techniques
• Proper documentation
• Safeguarding employee privacy
• Related state and federal laws

Speakers: Robin Cross & Audrey Forbush

Roberta "Robin" Cross currently works as the Township Attorney for The Woodlands Township, Texas. She has over eighteen years’ experience working for local governments and was recognized as an IMLA Fellow in 2013. She has also worked as in-house counsel for a police labor union and for the EEOC, as a trial attorney. She is licensed to practice in Texas and admitted all of its federal courts, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. She has been Board-certified in Labor and Employment Law since 1992 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was appointed as Vice-President of IMLA’s Personnel Section in the fall of 2015. She enjoys employment law, among other things, because "you can't make this stuff up."

Audrey Forbush focuses her trial practice primarily in the area of municipal liability with particular expertise in police liability issues, such as search and seizure, use of force, pursuits and correctional law; civil rights; whistleblower; labor and employment (discipline, wrongful discharge and contract related issues), zoning and personal injury. She also advises public and private universities with respect to Title IX claims of alleged sexual assaults on campus.