What Do I Do if Somebody Connects with Me After an Investigation is Completed?

Natalie Lynch is your credentialed investigator and licensed attorney, not a vlogger.

What do I do if somebody connects with me after an investigation is completed? 

So, sometimes the reporting party in particular will reach out to me. I do counsel my clients to circle back around with the reporting party when the investigation is done, but they don't always do that well – or consistently or timely. And so, sometimes the reporting party in particular – but sometimes it's other people – reach out to me after an investigation is complete. Sometimes they have new information when they do that, too. 

So, generally speaking, unless I have an active and ongoing investigation related to that issue, I tell the person, "You need to reach back out through your traditional reporting procedures. So, go back to your handbook, go back to your ethics hotline, go back to your complaint hotline, and make a report anew. I'm not your substitute HR person. I’m not your substitute reporting person." 

I try to avoid actually saying that I'm done with the investigation. But, ultimately, I've usually wrapped up my investigation, and they need to start a new process.

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