There are few skill sets more diverse than that of the legal attorney. Whatever their area of expertize, the dedicated attorney will leave no stone unturned and no legal strategy unexplored in the name of achieving the best possible outcome for their clients. However, when case complexity escalates, assets cross state lines, or witnesses fall off the grid, there is another broadly-skilled professional to which the attorney can turn—the private investigator, professionals who can be particularly valueable as a legal investigator, or a corporate investigator.
Diligent Legal Investigations Win Cases
Private investigators often lighten the load of attorneys and their staff by simply adding another set of eyes, ears, and hands to their usual duties. Highly skilled at tugging on relevant strings of information and spotting patterns or inconsistencies, a private investigator is an ideal ally when documents, filings, and data must be sourced, compiled, and analyzed in order to build an air-tight case.
Of course, there are also avenues open to a private investigator through which even the best attorney would be unable to follow. Licensed investigators can harness surveillance tools in order to track those who don’t want to be tracked or find those who wish to remain hidden. They can conduct computer forensics and unearth incriminating digital footprints, delve into the same databases as law enforcement agencies, and follow leads across state lines.
When it comes to mounting legal investigations in cases of fraud and white collar crime, there is no better collaborator than a specialist corporate investigator. Adept at uncovering illegal activity in the workplace, they will be able to meticulously and strategically comb through an organization’s operational history and practices in order to bring evidence of wrongdoing to light.
Building a case often means drawing together puzzle pieces that are broadly spread. Providing a boost of gravitational pull to that effort, a private investigator can take on demanding tasks such as locating, verifying and interviewing potential witnesses. They can unearth concealed financial assets or gather fresh evidence to confirm or refute claims—and they can do these things while drawing from a resource pool that extends beyond those available to any attorney’s office.
Legal Investigations and Key Litigation Support
Crucially, a private investigator—seasoned both in supporting attorneys and helping companies or individuals gather evidence that will stand up in court—is the perfect ally when the time comes to develop a defense strategy.
Just as a corporate investigator knows their way around lifting the curtain on workplace criminality, a specialist in legal investigations will understand how to provide impactive support for sound legal standing. This may mean analyzing the evolving strategies for holes or vulnerabilities, examining and cross examining the defense in preparation, or aiding in jury pool assessment while helping to safeguard the client’s right to a fair trial.
From standard paper pushing to deep-dive evidence gathering; from surveillance to litigation support: a well-versed private investigator is an asset that every attorney should have in their toolkit. Here at Lauth Investigations International, we are proud to provide tailored attorney and legal services, conducted by highly skilled and legally fluent investigators.
Whether uncovering debtor assets, supporting criminal defense cases, or gathering powerful evidence of harassment or discrimination, we know what goes into building a legal strategy that is iron-clad. Discover more about this specialized branch of the investigative work that we do or contact our team today to discuss how we can help you win your next case.
How much is employee burnout costing your business? In an era that sees many employees wear their weekly overtime and success metrics as badges of honor, keeping your team on an even keel has become a delicate dance. Burnout as a concept has certainly entered the collective lexicon as something that none of us want for ourselves, but increasingly, employers are looking to quantify how much team members going over the edge costs them at large. And what does the data tell us? Well, it paints a clear picture that preventing burnout in employees is key to holding productivity high, improving turnover, bolstering corporate culture, and so much more.
So, how much can a few frazzled employees really be costing you? Well, research indicates that burnout is at epidemic levels in the United States, leading to almost 120,000 deaths and $190 billion dollars in costs each year. Getting a little more specific, data from Gallup tells us that the burned-out employee under your radar is 2.6 times as likely to be actively looking for work elsewhere, and is 63% more likely to take a sick day in the meanwhile.
If runaway turnover rates are giving you a headache, then it’s time for a Corporate Culture Audit so you can get to the bottom of the issue—because these kinds of operational and ideological missteps can steer a course for expensive rapid-fire turnover and escalating losses.
Defining Burnout and Improving Turnover
In the name of preventing burnout in employees, it helps to understand the nature of the beast. Conveniently, this isn’t something we have to do for ourselves, because the World Health Organization has already done it for us. They classify employee burnout as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” and list its symptoms as:
feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings negative towards one’s career
reduced professional productivity
When the WHO take the time to define something, then we know its a widespread public health problem, which means it’s bound to be impacting every facet of the businesses who fail to address it. What’s worse is that burnout can become contagious, spreading through an organization like a rabid infection when the driving factors are not pinpointed and stamped out. So, what lies at the root of this worrying sign of corporate culture gone astray?
Pinpointing The Causes of Burnout and High Turnover
The most common causes of employee burnout include poor direction, support, and feedback from leadership; unrealistic performance pressures; eroded culture; inefficient operational practices; and work overload. All too often, employee burnout is an entirely unnecessary impact of poor communication, workplace silos, strategic flaws, or a festering toxic corporate culture. The good news is that all of these things can be easily addressed once identified.
The key to uncovering the factors at play is a comprehensive overview, and the best route to achieving that is a Corporate Culture Audit. If you need more convincing, it’s handy to note that more than three-quarters of American workers are being negatively impacted by workplace stress. Armed with that knowledge, you’ll know that elevating your team out of that pool will give you quite the competitive edge.
Our expert corporate investigators are always ready to deploy, outfitted with just the skill set required to bring problematic permeating factors to the forefront. Their role is to help your organization lay out a clear path ahead. One that includes preventing burnout in employees, improving turnover, boosting performance, and more. If you’re ready to eliminate the beast once and for all—improving the longevity of your workforce in the process—then our team is waiting to discuss how they can assist.
To the average Joe, the term “corporate espionage” likely sounds like something out of a spy movie. Or, at the very least, something that only happens to huge corps in high-rise buildings. But the truth is that just about any business may have assets that their competitors covet—and if those rival businesses have a rogue sense of morality, they may be willing to break the law in order to get what they want.
It doesn’t help that many companies don’t share that they’ve fallen prey to corporate espionage, but who can blame them. Would you want the public to know that your company was the victim of a crime, or would you rather that corporate investigations were kept firmly under wraps in so far as policy and good practice would allow?
So, what exactly are we talking about here—beyond the kinds of crimes you might see in a Netflix series? Well, corporate espionage is an umbrella term that covers everything from employee misconduct that sees an insider with a grudge send sensitive data to the opposition, through to sophisticated hacking, illegal forms of surveillance, and on-site theft instigated by hired criminals specializing in espionage.
By nature, corporate espionage usually means either taking something for professional gain—whether that’s trade secrets, research, intellectual property, or precious customer data—or strategically damaging a business through means such as bribery, blackmail, or cyber attack. Oh, and smaller businesses shouldn’t think that they’re immune. If you’ve got an innovative idea or precious information that offers unique value, then it pays to be vigilant.
Gaining the Upper Hand and the Moral High Ground
These days, just about all businesses gather intelligence about their rivals to one extent or another. Doing your research is invaluable when it comes to tracking what consumers are responding to and leveraging gaps in the market. However, when we know that certain companies are willing to cross the line between competition and criminality, it’s important to ask ourselves: are our defences in place, or should we be reinforcing the ramparts?
So, what—or who—is the best secret weapon to have at your side? Unquestionably, when it comes to defending against corporate espionage, turning to specialist investigators gives you the chance to outsmart your would-be assailants. In fact, strategic and cost-effective corporate investigations are ideal for uncovering the gaps in your security protocols, whether they are lapses in digital security, on-site vulnerabilities, or the kind of eroding corporate culture that can quickly evolve into workplace theft or white-collar crime.
Seasoned investigators are highly skilled at helping companies scope out their competitors—discreetly and legally—in order to stay ahead of any possible corporate espionage threats. They can also help you identify red flags that suggest workplace misconduct is escalating or sliding into dangerous territories, and guide you in building a strategy to address every weak-point revealed.
Avoid Corporate Espionage By Knowing When To Ask For Help
At times, employers know that something foul is afoot—they just don’t know what it is. An executive might be behaving strangely, a manager suddenly staying after hours, or a team member accessing restricted areas without permission. At other times, the warning signs may go undetected until crisis strikes. Modern corporate espionage techniques are smart and sneaky, and as they evolve, we must too. When cause for concern arises, swift action is vital. But, it is also crucial that a company does not overstep legal bounds or take action that won’t reflect well later in court. As an objective outsider, a private investigator from Lauth Investigations can help you navigate the matter without risk to the company, and guide you if immediate action needs to be taken. We are also poised to help companies stay ahead of any and all threats with periodic preventative Corporate Culture Audits. Forewarned is forearmed, so why not learn more about our comprehensive auditing and corporate-specialised investigations services. Alternatively, contact our team to discuss your needs today.
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.
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.
