Weingarten Rights 101: What Every Investigator and Union Steward Should Know

Episode Overview: In this first episode of the mini-series, host Natalie Ivey explains what Weingarten Rights are and the importance of internal investigators, especially HR and Employee Relations investigators, in understanding these rights. She further elaborates on common misconceptions, mistakes that are made, and how to handle a situation with a newly elected union steward who pushes the boundaries of the role so the investigatory interview can get back on track. 

Key Topics

• Origins of Weingarten rights
• When rights attach
• Duties of management
• Responsibilities of union representatives
• Common misconceptions

Key Lessons from This Episode:

✓ Representation is active, not passive.

✓ Employees must request representation.

✓ Investigators maintain control of the interview.

Who Should Listen: HR and Employee Relations professionals, investigators, and managers responsible for internal investigations or compliance.

Get Trained by Natalie on how to conduct investigations: Natalie’s next 2-day Certificate Program virtual workshop to gain the skills, tools, and confidence to handle any investigation effectively—before a costly mistake happens. The next virtual program will be on June 23-24, 2026 from 11:00-5:00 Eastern Time. (Please note in today's episode Natalie mentioned it ended at 4:00, but the program concludes each day at 5:00 pm ET). Early Bird registration is still open until end of business day Monday, June 15 so take advantage of the early-bird bonuses!