It might be easy to think, “that would never happen in my business,” but workplace harassment is an issue that traverses all industries, all working environments, and all sizes of organization. Ranging from workplace bullying, to sexual harassment, through to outright discrimination, this particular problem can be one of many faces, and the signs aren’t always obvious. Would you know which indicators to look out for?
But surely, if workplace harassment took place on your premises or within the teams under your command, someone would speak up—right? Sadly, research indicates that 75% of incidents go unreported. With these factors in mind, it is crucial to be familiar with a spectrum of signs that could let you know that a hostile workplace environment is beginning to take hold. So let’s dig into the facts. Read on as we reveal the red flags that can serve as signals that workplace harassment may be taking place, and what you can do about it.
What Is Workplace Harassment?
Because verbal and psychological workplace harassment don’t leave a mark or a trail, victims often feel uncomfortable and confused about whether reporting their experiences is a good idea, or even afraid of retaliation if they do. Of course, that fear becomes all the more palpable when physical or sexual harassment are taking place.
In terms of who may be impacted—or who may be the harasser—it’s important to remember that this type of interaction is not always relegated to superior/subordinate working relationships. Workplace harassment may cross teams, with the harasser working in a role above, below, or even unconnected to the victim. Particular forms of misconduct could include slurs, name-calling, offensive jokes, intimidation, insults, ridicule, or work disruption—and these may take place in person, or within the digital realm, otherwise known as “cyber bullying.”
The reality is that all forms of of workplace harassment are not only illegal, but also guaranteed to leave a sizable hole in your bottom line. When any form of harassment at work is tolerated, you can anticipate a drop in productivity and a surge in turnover as employees’ sense of safety and camaraderie is eroded. Not to mention, the very real risk of litigation will also be looming.
What Are the Signs of Workplace Harassment?
The most obvious indicator that some form of workplace bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment may be taking place is of course a complaint. These should always be followed by immediate and strategic corporate investigations. However, when incidents go unreported, you can safeguard employees by remaining alert to the following signs:
Behavioral Changes If you notice a sudden change in an employee’s behavior—perhaps with them becoming more withdrawn and avoidant of corporate events or meetings—then a check-in is advisable.
Performance Changes An employee who starts missing deadlines, struggling to focus, or performing to a lower standard may be struggling with the burden of workplace harassment.
Atmosphere Changes While only one individual may be the direct victim of workplace harassment, the rest of your team may also be bearing the brunt of its occurrence. A disintegration in communication, rising tensions, and higher turnover may all be red flags.
Attendance Changes The experience of being harassed or witnessing harassment can be both stressful and traumatizing. This may lead a once-punctual employee to begin arriving late, missing important events, or increasingly calling in sick.
Corporate Investigation Services: Spotlighting the Truth of Your Suspicions
Workplace harassment is a sensitive issue that, when handled poorly, can have substantial legal ramifications for any business or organization. If you have received a complaint of workplace harassment or suspect that an incident may have taken place, turn to Lauth Investigations International for assistance. Our specialist corporate investigators offer expertise in revealing the truth through diligent, documented, and legally sound workplace investigations. If you are concerned that a larger pattern of misconduct or poor corporate culture may be evolving within your team, take proactive action with a Corporate Culture Audit. This health-check for your business will paint a clear picture of the current landscape, and deliver a clear roadmap for how to create an environment where workplace harassment is not welcome, and employees can flourish and succeed. Contact our team today to learn more.
A lot of people might imagine that undercover investigations are something that’s only really seen in the movies. A smooth talking operative, planted at the core of a villainous organization, tirelessly working to overthrow evil. What a great plot concept! But an undercover investigator can be so much more than what we see in the movies.
While those of us who undertake this work in the real world might enjoy the flattering portrayal, the reality is that undercover investigations are far more common than you might think—and an effective option for businesses of any size, when the situation warrants them. An undercover investigator, or even a team of investigators, may enter a business at any level in order to gather evidence of a crime underway, or gain a clear picture of employee misconduct without alerting the perpetrators.
This Big Screen-Worthy Tactic Doesn’t Need a Hollywood Budget
When a business is already feeling the strain, the last thing they need is a fraudster or thief on their payroll. Truth be told, even the healthiest and most prosperous corporations can be dramatically derailed by those they should be able to trust the most. From drug use during working hours through to white collar crime, employee misconduct and criminality can be tricky to spot. However, allowing dangerous or unlawful behavior to run rampant means accruing costs that both honest employees and the business itself will have to shoulder.
Whether evidence is hard to come by, the culprit isn’t obvious, or a business is afraid of legal repercussions, taking decisive action can be the most efficient and cost-effective route to resolving matters once and for all. A swift and strategic corporate investigation will deliver the hard-hitting evidence required to allow leadership to act—and in many cases, an undercover investigation stands as the most laser-sharp tactic to get the job done.
Why Undercover Investigations Are So Effective
The harsh reality is that catching a thief, abuser, or criminal red handed is a luxury that few employers are afforded. Those who know their actions aren’t allowed bend over backwards not to get caught—this isn’t a Disney movie, so there’ll be no striped jumper and swag bag. That said, those who feel comfortable with immoral acts are far more likely to drop their guard with a peer, making an undercover investigator the best possible candidate for effective evidence gathering.
Under the umbrella of corporate investigations services, an undercover investigation means taking the fight to the front line. This intimate vantage point provides the perfect opportunity to make deft work of preventing the losses, injury, or liability that the misconduct at hand may ultimately result in. Meanwhile, because the operation is covert, day-to-day operations are not disrupted, and the remainder of your staff can continue their work uninhibited. Once a strong case is built, resolution can be decisive, and carefully managed, in order to keep morale on track.
Why External Corporate Investigations Specialists Are a Worthy Ally
Expert undercover operatives are well trained to maintain their discreet cover—all while operating under a fictitious identity that even extends to their online presence. An undercover investigation may serve as only a facet of a larger corporate investigation, perhaps including surveillance, employee background checks, research, and risk assessments. Fundamentally, a seasoned and trusted corporate investigations firm is best posed to provide for and scale to any corporate cause for concern.
Here at Lauth Investigations, we also offer businesses with proactive and preventative support, in the form of corporate background checks and Corporate Culture Audits. The latter is a bold and new addition to the corporate investigations landscape, providing a comprehensive overview to those at the helm of any enterprise—spanning team morale, operational structure, communications, pervasive misconduct, decision making efficiency, and much more. Finally, this service includes a crystal-clear game-plan that will allow organizations to move the needle towards prosperity, and leave investigation-worthy issues behind. Evidence uncovered by undercover investigators can be invaluable, so don’t write off this finely-tuned resource as fantasy over fact. Skilled undercover investigators from Lauth Investigations are ready to answer your call. Why not learn more about our corporate specialties, discover the innovative Corporate Culture Audit, or simply contact our team to discuss your needs and receive a no-obligation quote today.
Imagine a home—an attractive and decadent home—within which every visible surface is neat and tidy. However, if you lift the rug or look under the furniture, what you discover is festering. Mold, pests, and grime have taken hold, because nobody thought to look further than surface-deep. This kind of neglect might seem shocking, but a surprising number of business owners take the very same attitude to their most precious asset.
Forging a thriving, profitable company is a noble endeavor indeed, and one that takes substantial time and investment. If you are the person at the helm—or perhaps the CEO or human resources director of a well-respected company—ask yourself: How much do you really know about what lies under the carpet?
As the corporate specialists here at Lauth Investigations aid ambitious businesses through our innovative Corporate Culture Audits, we often find that even the most alert entrepreneur or HR professional can be stunned by our findings. In reality, this is hardly surprising. It’s impossible to know what goes on behind every closed office door or what staff get up to when leadership aren’t around. That certainly begs the question, what does a deep-clean entail?
Counting the Costs When Your Business is an Unclean House
When bad agents run amok within a business, soon enough its corporate culture, team morale, productivity, and profitability will inevitably begin to bottom out, and a human resources director should be on alert. This kind of under-the-surface crisis can begin with workplace harassment, time-theft, the stealing of company property, data theft, malingering, and many more examples. If detected, stand-alone instances may be met with corporate investigations, which may or may not reveal culprits. However, when such actions go unnoticed, the risks become ever greater.
A single bad apple can soon initiate a rot that travels barrel-wide. One team member getting away with FMLA abuse or raiding the supplies closet may embolden others to follow suit. Meanwhile, honest employees can find themselves within a toxic work environment that saps them of their drive and focus. High turnover can follow—as your brightest talent moves on to greener pastures. This picture is bleak, no doubt; so how can you reveal what cannot be seen?
Knowing When to Take Action
Whenever warning signs appear—whether they are a fall in profits, a rise in departure notices, a trickle of complaints, or a spate of small inventory losses—action should be taken immediately. Armed with the knowledge that what festers can spread, not only should corporate investigations be launched, but a more comprehensive insight must be uncovered.
In order to glean that all-seeing view, there can be no better tactic than turning to a specialist corporate investigations service. Lauth Investigations is home to the innovative Corporate Culture Audit—a health-check for businesses that is diligently tailored to shed full illumination upon every corner of your company’s operations and culture. We examine aspects such as of communication, cohesion, structure, atmosphere, and engagement—uncovering grimy problem areas along the way. With the spotlight turned up, we next compose a measurable and tangible strategy that will help you transform your business, leaving those hidden surfaces exposed, and providing a deep-clean that will not disappoint. Take the initiative and contact Lauth Investigations today. By stepping ahead of hidden threats, you can ensure that your business is able to shine at its full potential.
The recruitment process is a resource-hungry beast for any business to satiate. It eats up the time of your HR team and departmental leadership, as well as digging deep into company funds. Of course, every human resources director or CEO knows that hiring also represents a vastly rewarding investment—but the process needs to be efficient and the recruitment choices well-informed if that outpouring of resources is going to pay off.
For ambitious contemporary businesses, carrying out background checks is an absolutely crucial step in the screening process. Those who have fallen foul of bad hires will know that these lines of defence can mark the difference between future success and costly corporate investigations. When streamlining the recruitment process, many imagine that background checks are better performed in-house, however, the reasons why outsourcing this form of investigation is a savvy move are compelling. Read on to discover how partnering with Lauth Investigations will help you transform your recruitment process for the better.
Why It Pays to Invest in Pre-Employment Screening
Most of us learn at some point that what we don’t know most definitely can hurt us, but what does this mean for businesses undergoing recruitment? Flawed hiring choices can result in immeasurable cost and damage for corporations, ranging from falling morale and performance through to corporate theft. It also leaves the door open for workplace discrimination, harassment, and malingering—and that’s just scratching the surface.
So, how exactly to background checks safeguard against the risks? Well, you might be shocked to learn that data tells us that almost half of all background checks reveal discrepancies between the credentials provided by candidates and the facts. If what’s been concealed raises a red flag—and of course, the act of concealment in the first place may be enough—then you will be ready and aware, and able to divert away from disaster.
Why Turn To a Private Investigator for Background Checks
Sifting through documentation and reaching out to verify references can mean significant time lost to the schedules of your core team and their primary objectives. Outsourcing these efforts can not only yeild far faster and more cost-efficient results, but it also means gaining access to substantially greater insight.
Licenced private investigators from Lauth Investigations leverage their capacity to access restricted and verified databases, uncovering information about your potential recruits that would otherwise remain obscure. Our skilled investigators deliver a comprehensive review of candidate’s criminal, financial, locational, and litigative history. The result is greater clarity and objectivity, allowing you to eliminate those who might pose a risk, and perceive promising talent without the haze of bias—not to mention, without the risk of later accusation of discrimination.
Finally, choosing to partner with a skilled private and corporate investigations firm means enjoying peace of mind that federal, state, and local regulations in regard to background checks are always met with full compliance. Whether your organization’s operations have traversed state lines, or your candidate’s history has, an investigator fully versed in all aspects of compliance is a strong ally indeed. Background checks from Lauth Investigations are a powerful tool in the protection of companies, non-profit organizations, and private individuals alike. Why not reach out to our team today to see how we can help you safeguard your business and streamline your recruitment process for a stronger footing both tomorrow and beyond.
While there are a great number of Private Investigators across America doing great work for individual clients, a small and elite few among their numbers offer greater specialization. This high-caliber investigative service can be invaluable to attorneys doing vital work for their clients, and insurance companies aiming to mitigate the risk of fraudulent claims.
This class of investigator often comes from a background in law enforcement or some form of legal profession—but most crucially, they are optimally versed in exactly what attorneys require when presenting evidence, and build every investigative case file with the mindset that it must be airtight in court. Better yet, they are also optimally poised to provide day-to-day support, thanks to full understanding of the task on the table—making them the ideal right hand for those taking the lead.
With licensed access to restricted databases and comprehensive knowledge of both state and national policies, a seasoned Private Investigator is an ideal ally for those tackling complex caseloads. Here, we’ll explore why outsourcing key investigative tasks can be both cost-effective and time-saving for any attorney or insurance company.
Increasing Efficiency With a Private Investigator
For insurance providers and attorneys alike, every case calls for a unique process, and scopes can grow as complexities can arise. When following a person—or object—across state lines becomes a necessity, a crucial witness falls off the grid, or surveillance is called for, a Private Investigator’s assistance can become a must. However, there is much to be said for streamlining investigations at an earlier stage with outsourced assistance.
Crucially, a Private Investigator’s objective is to move the needle faster. In many cases, a Private Investigator will be able to quickly uncover evidence that brings conclusions forwards—prevents costs from escalating, or facilitating an earlier settlement, plea, or denial. Fundamentally, due diligence lies at the core of every effort undertaken by the Lauth Investigations team, and that dedication can help you ensure that your case is both deft and airtight.
Drawing Upon a Broad Skill Set
Private Investigators who are well versed in legal process, witness interviewing, and evidence gathering, offer a spectrum of services that can assist attorneys and insurance companies alike. Examples of the assistance they may provide to attorneys include:
When it comes to collaborating with insurance companies, Private Investigators may assist with cases pertaining to personal injury, healthcare claims, product liability, disability claims, workers compensation, theft, and many more. Examples of the assistance they provided to insurers include:
Partner With a Private Investigator Who Understands Your Role Fully
The Lauth Investigations team draw on 25 years of experience, mounting investigations ranging from those set in the corporate world to those that traverse the globe. Among the many facets of our work, supporting attorneys and insurance companies as they build complex cases and quest for efficient and cost-effective resolution is a source of great pride. Discover more about the attorney and legal services we provide, before contacting our team today to discuss how we can help you take longer strides with dedicated investigative support from Lauth Investigations.
