PII has been conducting sexual harassment investigations since these cases first made their way into the courts. With experience on literally hundreds of sexual harassment claims, PII’s investigators understand the sensitive nature of the allegations and are familiar with the barriers to disclosure. Some victims may hesitate to come forward for a number of reasons, including reluctance to discuss private matters, a fear of retaliation, or disbelief that their account will be taken seriously. Over the years, PII has developed investigative techniques to put complainants in these matters at ease.

Victims are only one piece of the puzzle, however. Co-workers and the accused also need to be interviewed with care. Not all accusations have merit, and false charges must be uncovered before they can do real damage. PII has a long track record of interacting with complainants, witnesses and those accused of sexually harassing conduct.

Directors at a nursing home received a complaint from a nurse’s aide, who alleged that a respiratory therapist was sexually harassing her. The therapist was a long-term employee with a solid work history, while the complainant had a reputation for tardiness and calling in sick. In briefing PII on the situation, managers of the facility expressed their faith in the respiratory therapist, while they doubted the veracity of the victim’s account. The case was complicated by racial overtones since the nurse’s aide was African American and the respiratory therapist was Latino. PII interviewed several employees, including women from different racial backgrounds, and found convincing evidence that the respiratory therapist had engaged in unwanted sexual conduct with other women at work, causing the managers to terminate his employment.