Especially if handled poorly, incidents in the workplace can greatly impact a company’s reputation. The first time a complaint is made, it is incredibly crucial to tackle any potential issues head-on at the first sign of trouble. In both workplace theft and potential legal fees, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, failure to do so can be costly. All the while protecting you and your employees from unethical business practices, conducting internal investigations can help to ensure your company is operating effectively under company policies as well as state and federal laws. To help your company identify potential risks, take disciplinary action, and in some cases bring about criminal charges, working with a private investigation firm is the best solution. Today, we at Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami, FL would like to share what to watch for and how experts can help.
Corporate Investigation Process Steps
Following a complaint or allegation made by one or more clients or employees, an internal corporate investigation is typically launched. A corporate investigation can determine whether or not an employee has broken any company policies or even laws that can cause further legal problems on behalf of the company. The employee in question, and any other parties who participated in any wrongdoing can be dealt with accordingly upon the investigation findings. A company might choose to undergo an investigation due to a number of reasons.
Signs You Need to Conduct a Corporate Investigation
Especially if an internal investigation evolves into a criminal investigation, there are several different activities and problems that can pose life-threatening risks to your business, and some of them may lead to formal charges being filed against you and your employees. Any missing physical documents or suspicious activity in your company’s computer system after an employee report has been submitted can be identified during an investigation.
1) Sudden and Surprising Resignation: This might be an indication that an investigation is in order, especially if a once-loyal employee resigns suddenly without warning and is leaving to work for a competitor. A corporate investigation can uncover if the former employee has given away trade secrets or other proprietary information.
2) Employee Theft / Fraud is Suspected: In the year 2020, the Association of Employee Fraud Examiners reported that companies lost close to $1.5 million in theft per fraud case. From stealing office supplies for personal use, to time theft, or even stealing large sums of money from company funds, theft can range quite dramatically in the workplace. A corporate investigation can uncover the details and extent of employee theft and fraud.
3) Company Credit Card Misuse: Even though it is a great convenience, it can open the floodgates to a number of potential risks and even hard credit checks by allowing employees to have company-issued credit cards. Make certain to gather all statements and documentation to be used in an internal investigation if you suspect misuse of credit cards.
4) Improper Use of Personal Information: Particularly if the information is medical or financial in nature, security breaches should be taken extremely seriously as privacy is important in any organization. Sensitive information should only be available to employees and stakeholders who actually need it. It is vital to launch an investigation if you suspect personal information has been compromised, and another employee is using it for personal gain.
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To protect your business, if any of these signs apply or if you suspect other issues, call the professionals of Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami, FL to investigate.
