Today I received an email from the company lawyer, who also acts as the company'whistleblower officer for a discussion.

12 Comments

1. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 8:00PM UTC

   Get your own attorney. Tell the company attorney you will get back to them at a convenient time. You are not in a courtroom, you are not being served a summons. If you go, tell them HR will need to be in the room with you. You are not required to attend. I'm in the U.S.

2. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 8:32PM UTC

   You are in the US, therefore, can't really speak to the UK.

3. Coach Nancie Kay ShumanFebruary 19,2025 at 8:08PM UTC

   Is there a way to ask for more information before the meeting? Even something as simple as the topic would be helpful. Otherwise, going in with an open mind and understanding that they don't have to compel you to say anything. "I will have to think about your question," is a perfectly legitimate response, as is, "can we revisit this question in a few moment?" But his simple blanket statement regarding why he is calling the meeting doesn't give you enough information to go on.

   Also, bring a note pad, take notes, be prepared to ask your own questions.

   Godd luck.

4. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 8:13PM UTC

   He specifically says I must be in the room alone.

5. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 8:31PM UTC

   Are you the person being investigated or are you being interviewed as a witness?

6. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 10:02PM UTC

   That is a good question. All the email states is that: I have been contacted by an individual who has raised some concerns about wrongdoinga at Company Name. I am conducting an investigation into these concerns to see whether or not there is any substance to them.

   That gives me very little to go on. Surely if it was something I did, my line manager would contact me unless it has yo do with an HR matter?

7. AnonymousFebruary 19,2025 at 10:02PM UTC

   You attend and take notes and commit to a deadline for your research.

8. AnonymousFebruary 20,2025 at 4:03PM UTC

   It probably isn't about you at all. Most likely they are investigating something you may have heard about and are collecting many people's accounts about what they know. I would go, be cooperative and listen to what they are talking about. If you have no clue upfront, chances are this is not about you.

9. Tami L CannizzaroFebruary 20,2025 at 5:31PM UTC

   If I had to guess, they are investigating another individual and are interviewing others in the organization to see what they may know about any potential wrongdoing. IF this is the case, listen carefully to what they tell you and questions they ask. Unless you have seen with your own eyes the employee in question doing something illegal/that is against company policy, Do not jump to answer questions based on observations, hearsay, or assumptions. Questions such as "What have you seen with this colleague? Have you seen them do anything like X? Has their personality changed?" or other leading questions. They are skilled at getting us to provide nuggets of information that *may or may not* have anything to do with the person's behavior at work. For example, "has their behavior changed?" - they can use this to think, "maybe this person really has done something wrong, if suddenly their behavior has changed" and now they have a reason to be suspicious - when in fact, if the person's behavior has changed, maybe there's something going on in their personal life that they have not shared with anyone at work, including you. Remember, what you say may be used against someone; so be sure what you are saying is 100% true and you know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

10. AnonymousFebruary 20,2025 at 7:09PM UTC

    Question to everyone who is telling the OP to bring an attorney: most people don't have extra funds sitting around to engage legal counsel to escort them to a meeting they know nothing about! This is an outrageous recommendation until the OP has more information.

    The OP has been clear in saying they don't know if they've done something wrong or if they're being questioned about someone else.

    This board is always so litigious and these careless comments about "get an attorney" for everything are getting tired.

    Let's focus on something more actionable. Love the suggestions to take notes, remain curious, and hold off an answering any questions that are red flags.

11. AnonymousFebruary 22,2025 at 6:00PM UTC

    True. Lawyers online won't give free advice for liability reasons, and anyone else giving legal advice is not a great person to listen to unfortunately. Rememer: awful is not unlawful.

12. AnonymousFebruary 20,2025 at 7:46PM UTC

    Just checking in with the OP to see how the meeting went, and if you are okay. This has to be an incredibly stressful situation regardless of who HR is actually investigating. Make sure you take some time for yourself and to protect your mental wellbeing through all of this.