Strong practices for internal investigations offer vital security both for and within any organization. Employees can feel confident that they will be fully supported if they need a corporate investigator in their corner, and the company itself can deftly tread paths that might otherwise be legally perilous.
That all sounds great—certainly—but where should a business turn to when aiming to establish those best practices in the first place? Today, we’re going to dive into the vital considerations when building a workplace investigations strategy that will serve you well today and in the years to come. Read on, and wrap your mind around all the major need-to-knows.
The Vital Nature of Neutrality
Whether seeking simply to consult on internal investigations or aiming to place a delicate matter in the hands of a seasoned corporate investigator, the importance of neutrality can’t be overstated. If choosing who will lead an internal investigation or contacting someone from central HR within your company for advice, it is critical to assess whether their contribution can be truly viewed as impartial.
If there are personal connections to those being investigated, witnesses, or victims in the case of workplace harassment or discrimination, this may become a lead weight around the neck of the investigation if it ever leads to litigation. Neutral oversight is essential of the investigation is to be considered airtight, so if in doubt, reach out to an external corporate investigations specialist for necessary support as a legal safeguard.
Seeking Out the Right Skillset
A misstep in internal investigations can leave a company open to accusations of retaliation and the potential of an unfair dismissal lawsuit. This means that advice taken when planning your investigatory tactics should come from those truly in the know, and crucially, be rooted in more than mere opinion. An appropriate consulting advisor or corporate investigator will be able to fully grasp workplace policies and frame them within the context of applicable laws and legal obligations. Don’t forget that they may also require the skills to audit financials conduct computer forensics.
The Availability to Take Action
Launching internal investigations without someone at the helm who can handle the complexity and sensitivity of the complaint at hand is a dangerous move, but so too is waiting for a senior HR professional to have time in their schedule to take on the task. Delays in launching internal investigations can lead to leaks to the press and even occupational health and safety complaints. When a matter is serious in nature, bringing in a corporate investigator who can take action immediately is the only logical choice.
Prioritizing Appropriate Seniority
When a workplace complaint is made against a senior individual within the team, the prospect of impartial internal investigations becomes slim at best. It is a a simple reality that it’s highly unlikely someone unconnected to that individual, with no vested interest in the outcome, and within a position that is superior to those under investigation can be called upon. In contrast, an external corporate investigator will be unaffected by the high rank of the parties under investigation and will be able to lend neutral authority to the conclusions drawn.
Do you need expert guidance for workplace investigations or a corporate investigator ready to jump on the task at hand? Call upon the dedicated corporate team at Lauth Investigations International. We will safeguard your organization’s integrity while getting to the truth of the matter. Reach out to our team today and learn more about how we can assist.
Conceptually, the anonymity of whistleblowers is a good thing. Brave souls who risk it all to speak truth to power and ensure that justice is done—a noble mantle indeed. However, at times the picture can become a little more murky and the lines of morality more ambiguous. What if the claims made by a whistleblower are factually false, or perhaps even the individual in question has made erroneous claims out of a malicious desire to hurt the company in question?
Any CEO or business owner would certainly want to know if something nefarious was happening within their team on their watch. However, in particular instances, they may wish to identify a whistleblower in an effort to enact swift damage control. The actions taken by any business or organization in this position must be legally sound and strategically deft if an escalation of the situation is to be avoided. In times such as these, a private investigator specializing in corporate investigations can be the ultimate ally in finding a whistleblower and setting the record straight.
The Complexities of Whistleblower Retaliation
While there are a diversity of legal protections in place for whistleblowers in the United States, they can vary greatly depending on the industry and unlawful activity in question, as well as from state to state. For any company intent on finding a whistleblower and taking action, it is important to seek accurate guidance on a course that will not result in litigation down the road.
On the other side of the same coin, perceived whistleblowers who aim to cause intentional harm to the organization they blow the whistle on can not only turn to various federal agencies to secure confidentiality protection, but they can even hope to gain a financial reward for their disclosure from an authority like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In such an environment, companies need to have their wits about them and mitigation plans in place.
Navigating What Comes Next After Finding a Whistleblower
A survey of whistleblowers conducted by the Bradley University Center for Cybersecurity revealed that nearly two thirds experienced some form of retaliation from their employers, such as termination, negative performance evaluation, industry blacklisting, and forced retirement. While legitimate whistleblowers facing such actions may be able to counter retaliation with legal action, this is not guaranteed. Notably, when businesses are able to demonstrate that the employee’s accusations were knowingly false or their behavior overstepped the defensible bounds of conduct, those protections may quickly be lost.
For a company in crisis, turning to a private investigator who specializes in navigating the corporate world is an excellent tactic. The private investigator will be able not only to investigate the identity of the whistleblower in question but gather evidence as to whether their accusations are founded or falsified. Taking this proactive step can help a business lessen the brunt of the impact that a whistleblower incident can make to their reputation. Whether the outcome of finding a whistleblower with the help of a private investigator is being ahead of the criminal behavior that the accusation relates to or demonstrating that the whistleblower’s actions are inauthentic, it means taking a stronger position than would be realized by taking no action at all. If your organization is standing on the edge of such a precipice and wondering which move to make next, contact Lauth Investigations today for expert, impartial advice on navigation and resolution of an active whistleblower complaint.
Inevitably, certain types of workplace wrongdoing warrant an overt investigation—when it’s in the company’s best interests to take a stance of transparency when taking steps to rectify the issue at hand. But in others instances, keeping your investigation under wraps can ultimately be the only way to mitigate damage, catch wrongdoers in the act, and prevent an escalation of impact to company reputation and financial standing. In these moments, a corporate investigator well versed in launching efficient and sound undercover investigations is the crucial ally you need in your corner.
When evidence suggests that something nefarious is bubbling under the surface of your organization’s operations, there is always a risk that what you have detected is only the tip of the iceberg. To gain a sense of the scale of the issue, it’s important to recognize that 90% of all significant theft losses within the corporate world come from employees—and that’s only one within a spectrum of immoral activities that could be happening right under your nose.
Factors such as eroded company culture, patterns of workplace theft, malingering, and even catastrophic white collar crime often go undetected by leadership for months until untold damage has been done. The salve to such risks is proactive and discreet action taken at the right time, offering the potential to thwart the misappropriation of company assets and resources. If you find yourself wondering what you are missing in your workplace, Lauth Investigations International is ready to assist.
The Types of Workplace Wrongdoing That Undercover Investigations Bring to Light
Whenever an employer has a clear sense of conduct violations or even criminality taking place under their roof—or simply has a suspicion that all is not as it should be—undercover investigations can reveal far more of what takes place in the workplace than any other form of surveillance.
A highly trained covert corporate operative will be able to accurately evidence the things that your security systems and CCTV have missed, including issues such as product or property theft, fraud and forgery, idling and malingering, substance-abuse, bullying and discrimination, non-compete violations, safety and security issues, and much more beside.
A phenomenal amount of evidence gathering can take place with zero disruption to the workplace or any indication to wrongdoers that their actions are being monitored. Once the covert operation is concluded, further formal corporate investigations, disciplinary procedures, and legal action can be taken with confidence that the material evidence is in place to back every step up.
Why Undercover Investigations Are So Effective
Whether an employee’s actions are intentionally criminal or dangerously negligent, an admission of guilt is never something that will simply arrive on your desk. As soon as the individual or individuals in question sense that they are under the microscope, in all likelihood they will quickly rally to cover their tracks. This makes overt corporate investigations a risky pursuit, as HR quickly find themselves running up against dead ends, unable to pinpoint the source of accumulated losses.
In contrast, a covert investigation undertaken with the assistance of undercover investigations specialists from Lauth Investigations International ensures the means to cast a spotlight on the facts before they move forever into the shadows. Whether the result is confirmation of your fears and the opportunity to correct them justly, or the confidence that trust in your team is something that you can afford to indulge, undercover investigations provide ultimate peace of mind. If faith has been compromised at your workplace and you suspect that all is not as it should be, reach out to our team today for tailored advice on the best way to proceed.
Before you pull the trigger on that next big investment or expansion, ask yourself: how well do you really know your market? Putting proverbial eggs in the wrong basket can be disastrous for any business—but innovative leaps are a must when aiming to achieve greatness. So, how can we know when to jump and when to pivot? The answer lies in corporate intelligence services. In fact, there is no greater ally than the corporate intelligence investigator when it comes to eliminating question marks and filling in the blanks. There is no better way to ensure that your game plan will be game-changing only in the ways that you want it to be!
Every day, corporate intelligence firms do powerful work in steering companies towards opportunity and away from danger, offering legal and ethical guidance that will allow them to make bold new moves with confidence. A trusted corporate intelligence analyst will not only present the facts, but provide expert insight into how to translate that information into decisive action. If you’d like to know more about the ins and outs of hiring a corporate intelligence firm, then you’ve come to right place. Read on to discover more about this invaluable service within the contemporary corporate realm.
Why Launch a Corporate Intelligence Investigation?
The corporate intelligence investigation—sometimes also referred to as the workplace intelligence investigation—is all about gaining clearer insight of your company’s current tactical stance in relation to what surrounds it.
A workplace intelligence investigator can gather poignant intel on whether an identified market niche is truly as open as you think it is. Equally, they might set out to deduce whether your competition is planning a similar move—posing the risk of speedy market saturation—or even whether a competitor has taken an immoral route, having swiped your ideas, and is actively engaged in trying to beat you to the punch.
At times, the work of a corporate intelligence investigator will be less about weighing up your rivals, and more about auditing your aspiring allies. If you are courting a brand new business partnership, prospecting a merger, or even simply exploring additional suppliers, this type of corporate investigations will provide the opportunity to enter into new territory from a fully informed position. Of course, if red flags appear under scrutiny, you can side-step what would otherwise have been a disastrous undertaking—protecting your company’s integrity, and continuing unscathed toward better and brighter things.
Hiring a Corporate Investigator For Structured Intelligence Gathering
Licensed corporate intelligence firms have access to many of the same databases that are used by law enforcement. They are veterans at uncovering facts within the corporate sphere, and can draw together a far more detailed picture of the current state of play than your in-house team might. Within a world that increasingly sees data as currency, this unique skill set has become invaluable to all manner of organizations—and for many, keeping a corporate intelligence consultant on speed dial is simply prudent practice. Going further, for companies large or small, hiring a corporate intelligence firm before committing to certain choices offers peace of mind in a different way, too. Crucially, it allows confidence that business dealings are conducted in a sound and compliant manner, and that the company’s hard-built reputation is never left vulnerable to risk. It is far better to reveal that all is not as it seems before placing a bad bet. At the end of the day, there are few greater assets than stable footing when about to take an all-important leap. If that warning places hiring a corporate intelligence firm freshly on your agenda, contact Lauth Investigations International today to find out which steps to take next.
With every decade that passes, a new wave of wild corporate scandals emerge—from Martha Stewart’s criminal insider trading through to Joseph Meli’s ticket ponzi scheme—and with them come a new roster of compliance legislation. No doubt, these laws are vital for keeping both consumers and businesses safe. They reflect an ever-more sophisticated world that increasingly calls for international cooperation and high-tech solutions for keeping those of dubious morality honest. When corporations are believed to be acting dishonestly, a compliance investigation is in order.
It’s great to have safeguards in place that center on our best interests, but for companies facing down an impending compliance investigation, the logistical scale of keeping track of every line of legislation and monitoring compliance across different teams and sites can get dizzying. At this juncture, a private investigator becomes the ultimate ally—able to launch efficient and effective corporate investigations that ensure every aspect is on-point, and that the company in questions has documented proof that they were taking every possible step to ensure their actions are to the letter of the law.
Beyond the lens of government, shareholders are also more invested than ever in knowing that their capital is in safe hands. They want to feel confident that regulators are doing their jobs, and that those driving their interests are engaged with the growing number of laws and regulations—100% vigilant to any and all possible irregularities, and committed to compliance and ethics.
Why Call a Private Investigator Ahead of a Compliance Inspection
These days, many larger companies have a Chief Compliance Officer on their payroll. This executive position places one person in charge of overseeing company-wide compliance and steering the culture that supports it. No doubt, it can be useful for reducing potential conflicts of interest, but it doesn’t eliminate them entirely. Of course, for smaller companies, the possibility of hiring a dedicated CCO is out of the question—leaving potential conflict of interest inherent by nature.
The assistance of an external private investigator able to conduct impartial corporate investigations can become an invaluable asset—particularly when a company finds itself under the microscope of a compliance investigation. This simple solution serves as an ultimate gesture of diligence and transparency. By asking a private investigator to audit operations and build a full picture of the state of play, the company makes clear that they are ruled by integrity and unwilling to compromise on behalf of consumers, shareholders, and society at large.
The Practicalities of a Compliance Investigation
A compliance investigation may involve cross-checking data, matching practices to policy and legislation, or launching covert surveillance operations at different facilities or franchisee locations. Crucially, it is a tailored process that reflects the unique nature of the organization at hand and the compliance legislation and policy to which its integrity is pinned. Corporate investigations specialists understand that no employer can see every detail that goes on under their watch. But, with the assistance of seasoned private investigators from Lauth Investigations, that employer can effectively expand their scope and meticulously account for each and every intricate compliance requirement, for total peace of mind. If you are seeking support in assessing your current compliance standing, our team is ready to advise you. Getting in touch comes with no obligation, but we think you’ll be surprised at the confidence that comes with knowing your compliance standards are locked down.
I wonder, does your human resources director or CEO have a private investigator on their speed-dial list?
If the answer is no, then you may be missing a trick. Because today, the private investigator has become an indispensable asset in ensuring the smooth functioning of many American businesses. Often this journey begins during the company’s very inception, as investigators are tasked with gathering relevant corporate intelligence and carrying out due diligence assessments of those who will fill key roles or be granted pivotal partnerships.
As the business grows and evolves, the human resources director knows that they can turn to a private investigator for crucial candidate background checks and internal investigations, while leadership may lean on their skill set whenever a legal dispute or security concern arises.
In fact, contemporary businesses are increasingly turning to corporate investigators for preventative solutions to problems ranging from employee theft to white collar crime, and from intellectual property theft to eroded corporate culture. In essence, a private investigator well seasoned within the corporate sphere is an ideal ally—impartial, diligent, and goal-oriented—in the effort to get things done right.
Turning To a Private Investigator For Corporate Intelligence Gathering
Within the contemporary corporate world, information is currency. Getting the lowdown on your competitors and knowing what’s about to move within your market area can be make or break, so why not turn to a professional dedicated to uncovering the facts?
Not only are private investigators armed with a myriad of resources that allow them to take corporate intelligence gathering far further than your internal team would be able to, but they also give total peace of mind that information seeking is carried out in a legally compliant and ethically sound manner.
Your trusted private investigator comes with the skill set needed to gather information about the strategies of the movers and shakers within your field. They can carry out detailed market analyses and assess the strengths and weaknesses of both your competitors and potential collaborators. Finally, they are also well versed in identifying market risks, as well as uncovering concealed crime such as fraud, theft, or embezzlement—whether it’s happening under your roof, or someone else’s on your radar.
Why Conduct a Corporate Intelligence Investigation
There is a myriad of reasons why information gathering may be called for, but at a few certain junctures, this important step should be considered vital. Whenever a company is poised to expand—whether domestically or internationally—corporate intelligence is not only poignant; it is indispensable. Is the perceived market niche as open as you think it is? Might another party be about to sweep in and steal your thunder? When armed with the answers, you can decide whether to leap or pivot.
Equally, when a business venture on the table poses significant financial or reputational risk, a timely investigation can help you avoid costly missteps. Periodic assessments of whether competitors are following similar avenues, jumping ahead, or even stealing your ideas can allow contemporary brands to safeguard their hard-earned reputations and crucially, their bottom lines.
Nothing fuels innovation like healthy competition—and in order to be competitive, it is vital to know where both rivals and partners are positioned on the board. In this sense, the private investigator can serve as a lens that casts focus on crucial information, and a cog that keeps your company in efficient motion. When it comes to making sound decisions about the strategies that will win you the game, few professional relationships offer greater reward. If you are ready to learn more about the potential value of corporate investigations for your business or organization, contact Lauth Investigations International today.
