Workplace investigations with non-English speaking employees take a little extra care by the investigator to yield fair and timely results. But an investigator skilled in these types of situations can anticipate the challenges and guide participants through the process.
OIG attorney investigator Maria Walker shared key insights into ensuring a fair, timely and thorough investigation in these scenarios in her article “Conducting Investigations With Non-English Speaking Employees” for The Business Journal, which was posted to its blog on August 1, 2025. The Business Journal serves readers across Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties in California’s Central Valley.
As Maria notes in the article, when an employee makes allegations of harassment, discrimination or other prohibited conduct in the workplace, workplace investigators are tasked with examining these claims to assist the employer in understanding the underlying facts and perspectives. Regardless of the industry or workplace, the investigator’s primary function remains the same: to collect and evaluate evidence relevant to the allegations. However, it is essential to recognize that investigators, whether internal or external, must adapt their approach for each investigation to ensure fair and equal participation from the involved employees. When non-English speaking employees are involved, both language and cultural barriers can impede the investigation, if not appropriately addressed.
In the article, Maria addresses issues such as:
- Anticipating the need for and providing interpreters
- Preparing the interpreter for their role in the interview
- Balancing an investigation’s need for both timeliness and fairness
- Taking care to avoid misunderstandings in the interview process
- Ways investigators can adjust their interviews to get the best results
Maria conducts investigations and climate assessments in both English and Spanish, and also assists other attorneys in the office with Spanish-language cases. Maria also has experience in providing investigation and other training for employers.
You can read the full article on The Business Journal blog.
