By: Renne Public Law Group Partner and Head of Investigations Practice Karen Carrera and Senior Associate Anastasia Bondarchuk

Workplace harassment investigations can be high-stakes, resource-intensive, and legally complex. Whether handled in-house or referred to an outside investigator, the quality and defensibility of the process can have a lasting impact on employee trust, organizational culture, and litigation risk.

Effective workplace harassment investigations must balance two equally critical imperatives: legal defensibility and cost-efficiency. Even the strongest investigation can become vulnerable if it drags on, expands beyond its intended scope, or generates unnecessary administrative work. Costs can escalate quickly when interviews are unfocused, when the scope drifts, or when the investigative team duplicates efforts. Promptness, clarity, and organization aren’t just best practices; they are part of meeting the requirement that investigations be thorough, impartial, and completed within a reasonable timeframe.

Fortunately, there are well-established strategies that reduce costs without compromising investigative quality:

  • Asking clients to complete questionnaires and provide background documents at the outset ensures a clean, accurate scope and avoids repeated backtracking.
  • Bundling interviews on the same day and leveraging technology such as Zoom interviews can significantly cut travel and transcription expenses.
  • Using standardized templates for investigation plans, interview outlines, reports, and executive summaries ensures consistency while preventing redundant work.
  • Leveraging technology to assist with document analysis and summaries also saves time and money.

These efficiencies never replace the core legal standards: proper scope setting, skilled interviewing, precise credibility assessments, clearly written findings, and accurate documentation remain the backbone of every defensible investigation. Instead, cost-saving measures reinforce those standards by creating a streamlined, focused process that serves both the employer’s legal obligations and its fiscal responsibilities.

In this article, real-world examples and current legal standards provide context for a practical roadmap for conducting prompt, thorough, neutral, and legally sound investigations – without breaking the budget.

Define and Document the Scope Early and Stick to it

The scope of an investigation defines the specific questions to be answered and identifies the conduct at issue, the time frame to be examined and the individuals or departments involved. Establishing a clear scope at the outset is essential because it serves as the roadmap for the entire process. A well-defined scope keeps the investigation focused, prevents unnecessary or duplicative work and ensures that findings align with the concerns the agency set out to address. It also protects against “scope creep,” where new issues are inadvertently added without approval, which can increase costs and undermine credibility. A disciplined approach to scope promotes efficiency, consistency, and legal defensibility.

Select a Neutral, Qualified Investigator

A defensible investigation begins with selecting an investigator who is impartial, objective, and free of any involvement in the underlying issues. The investigator must be trained in interviewing techniques and credibility assessment. Selecting a neutral investigator from the outset is critical to building a reliable, legally sound record.

Use Structured Tools and Smart Technology

Agencies can save time and resources by implementing systems that streamline the investigative process. Cost-effective practices include gathering documents early through questionnaires, using standardized templates for interview plans and conducting interviews via video platforms that allow auto-generated transcription. Modern transcription tools can replace hours of manual work and reduce costs without diminishing accuracy. While there are still circumstances where unrecorded interviews may be appropriate, leveraging available tools to transcribe increases efficiency.

Prepare Interviews Carefully and Know When to Stop

Effective interview preparation goes beyond writing questions. It requires reviewing relevant records, ensuring the setting is neutral and private, and respecting the interviewee’s comfort and ability to leave at any time. Immediately after each interview, the investigator should conduct a credibility assessment of the witness while the witness is still top of mind.

The goal is to gather enough information to reach a finding based on a preponderance of the evidence. Once the scope has been fully addressed, the investigation should conclude. Over-investigating adds cost and delay without improving defensibility.

Conclusion

Cost-effective workplace investigations rely on structure, clarity and disciplined execution. By selecting a neutral and unbiased investigator, defining and protecting the scope and leveraging technology, agencies can conduct investigations that are both efficient and legally defensible. These practices reduce unnecessary costs while strengthening public trust in the investigative process.

Partner and Head of Investigations Practice Karen Carrera
Senior Associate Anastasia Bondarchuk
“Best Practices for Cost-Effective Investigations”
2025 California Public Employers Labor Relations Association Annual Training Conference.