You’ve discovered employee theft in your restaurant. You’ve narrowed down the theft to a specific person using data analytics. You’re ready to confront that employee in an interview. Before you begin, it’s important to make sure the interviewer is fully aware of investigation best practices. Below are some best practices to keep in mind as you conduct a loss prevention investigation:
Stay away from slander or defamation of character
An investigation goes south when an employee’s character or their job performance is questioned during an interview. Be sure to keep the subject focused on the actions of the employee, and not the employee’s attitude, beliefs, or other personality flaws.
Keep the investigation professional
False imprisonment is defined as “depriving a person of his or her freedom to leave an area.” This does not have to involve physical restraint. In some cases, it can include psychological restraint. Verbally telling an employee that they cannot leave the room until the interview is finished can result in a false imprisonment suit. Make sure that ground rules for the meeting are set prior to the beginning of the interview and establish an appropriate comfort level between yourself and the employee.
Maintain confidentiality
If you’re going to accuse an employee of theft, you need to make privacy a top priority. Limit the interview to just the employee and the investigator or manager. This will help you maintain employee confidentiality and also make the setting less intimidating.
Involve a third party if needed
There are certain situations when having a third party involved in the loss prevention investigation can be beneficial. If the employee is a female, and the manager or investigator is a male, sometimes having another female co-worker or human resources professional in the room is helpful. In general, the interviewee has the right to request that a co-worker be present during the interview. If this is the case, place the co-worker behind the interviewee and advise them to only speak up in order to clarify a question asked by the investigator.
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