January 2011 - National Labor Relations Board

10051 GUIDANCE FOR HIGH QUALITY INVESTIGATIONSprovide advice to the parties and must remain neutral throughout the investigation, Boardagents should freely identify and discuss the theories underlying the charge with bothparties. This is particularly true with respect to individual charging parties who do nottypically have any expertise in Agency law and procedures. Throughout theinvestigation, Board agents should assertively seek out all material evidence in the spiritof providing the Regional Director with a complete picture of the events so as to permitan informed decision on the case.10051 Guidance for High Quality InvestigationsIn order to consistently maintain the highest quality investigations, RegionalOffices and Board agents should routinely consult this Manual, the Rules andRegulations, Board and Court decisions, and OM and GC memoranda. In particular theAgency’s quality committee periodically reviews field office performance in the variousfacets of casehandling throughout the country and issues memoranda recommendingpractices for ensuring the highest quality investigations. See GC Memo 08-06, OMMemo 08-76 and subsequent memoranda. Regional Offices and Board agents should beguided by these recommendations in conjunction with their own experience and shouldfollow the practices set forth in the memoranda.10052 Preliminary Review and Contacts10052.1 Initial Review of Charge and Preparation for InvestigationUpon receipt of an unfair labor practice assignment for investigation, the Boardagent should follow the procedures set forth below.Review the charge form to assure that it is correct on its face, i.e., that thecharge contains the correct and full name of the parties and that the textcorresponds to the sections of the Act alleged to have been violatedReview Regional Office records to determine whether there is any relevanthistory of charges or petitions involving the partiesInitially consider whether the Agency has jurisdiction over the disputegiving rise to the charge andPerform preliminary legal research on issues raised in the charge tobecome familiar with the appropriate areas of the lawRevised 01/11