For the purpose of uncovering wrongdoing committed by management, employees, or third parties, a Fulton County, IL corporate investigation is conducted. When conducting a corporate investigation, there are a variety of factors to consider. Investigations in the workplace are used to find out the legitimacy of a company’s business partner and to find out whether an employee has stolen money from the company, to name a few examples. However, the primary responsibility of a corporate investigator is to ensure that a business is operating legally and efficiently.
Employer misconduct is a common reason for companies to use corporate investigation services. If a supervisor suspects an employee is behaving inappropriately at work but does not have the time to constantly monitor them, they may want to consider hiring a surveillance expert to investigate. Some of the most common examples of this are:
- Sexual, physical, or verbal harassment
- Threats or intimidation
- Bullying
- Payroll abuse
- Substance abuse
- Insubordination
- Time theft
Business Acquisitions, IL
In order to make a sound investment, savvy business owners always conduct extensive background checks on potential acquisitions. A Business Due Diligence Report from a security firm that provides corporate investigative services can provide owners with a wealth of useful information to help them decide whether or not a business acquisition is worth it. Before settling on a price, take the time to go over these reports because they often contain useful information that can be used as a negotiating chip. The following should be included in a thorough due diligence report:
- Any parent companies or subsidiaries
- Company profile
- Corporate assets
- Property information
- Financial information
- Intellectual property
- Current/former employees and employee benefits
- Environmental Issues
- Customer Information
Workplace Incident/Internal Investigations, IL
Another reason your company might need corporate investigation services is to conduct an unbiased workplace investigation. A recent workplace incident or suspicion of corporate wrongdoing are the most common triggers for these types of investigations. It is imperative that an independent third party conducts a workplace incident investigation as soon as possible in order to gather accurate and impartial information. The goal of an internal investigation is to identify the person or persons responsible for suspected illegal activities such as fraud. Internal investigations frequently aim to uncover the following types of offenses:
- Bribery
- Money laundering
- Business asset misuse
- Check fraud
- Shell companies
- Purchase order fraud
- Computer fraud
- Contract fraud
- Credit card fraud
Types of Corporate Investigations, IL
For a variety of reasons, an investigator may conduct one or more of the following investigations in your company:
- Detection of Employee Misconduct: An undercover investigator can look into employee misconduct such as theft, substance abuse, or harassment. Covert surveillance is frequently used by investigators.
- Investigators can carry out research to find out information about companies that you do business with for acquisitions, fusions, joint ventures, venture capital, private equity, and investments, as well as other types of financial investments. They can also conduct extensive background checks on employees.
- E-Discovery / Electronic Investigation: Investigators can use e-discovery to gather evidence from electronic storage devices. These devices may also be able to recover lost data.
- Bribery, illegal foreign exchange, corporate fraud, and industrial spying can all be found by a corrupt investigation.
Have a Plan
There are a number of ways in which a company can conduct an internal investigation if it suspects that a significant amount of misconduct has occurred within the organization. It is possible for a business investigation to take place at the same time as or in addition to a police investigation.
Suspicion of fraud by an employee against the company, its customers, or its suppliers can start an investigation. It is possible that an employee has been bribed or corrupted while at work, or has been stealing from the company or its customers. The alleged misconduct may be widespread in an organization, and senior management may be under investigation.
Assemble a small team to oversee the investigation’s progress. Senior HR, legal compliance, and IT officials, as well as a board member (preferably a non-executive director), are all likely candidates. Consider the alleged misconduct in its entirety and ensure that no one with direct knowledge or supervisory responsibility for the potential wrongdoing is included in the investigation team. Documentation of every decision made by the team, whether to act or not, must be meticulous. To have a fruitful investigation, this is essential. Furthermore, any future criminal, civil, or disciplinary proceedings will be heavily dependent on it. Investigations in anticipation of formal investigations by police, regulators, or other investigative agencies are expected to take every reasonable step to secure any potentially relevant material and may be heavily criticized for failings, similarly if civil proceedings are anticipated.
Preserving relevant hard copy material, imaging all relevant electronic devices, and securing all relevant centrally held material, such as personnel files, compliance material, risk reports, CCTV footage, and any store of recorded telephone calls, will be the primary steps in this process. Email and file deletion policies must also be put on hold until the investigation is complete. Additionally, online email and storage accounts should be identified and protected if at all possible. The investigation’s goals and scope need to be clearly defined and agreed upon from the start. What has been claimed, what matters are to be investigated, the parameters of the investigation, proposed steps, and a proposed timeframe for investigation completion are all stated in terms of reference. This should be made clear if the investigation is to be restricted to certain jurisdictions, dates, or areas of the business. The terms of reference should be formally extended if additional issues arise during the course of the investigation. Define terms of reference in this way to keep the investigation focused and avoid scope creeping,’ If the terms are later disclosed to an outside investigative agency, it will demonstrate that a proper investigation was conducted by the company.
AO Services; Fulton County, IL Corporate investigations
Corporate investigations are used by businesses and corporations to both prove and prevent suspected illegal activity. An investigator is a trustworthy source of information if you are concerned about the health of your business or company. It is common for large corporations to employ investigators on a retainer or employ in-house investigators to keep tabs on all aspects of their business. This information is critical to their success in such a large endeavor. It is much more likely that evidence obtained by a corporate investigator, such as proof of employee dishonesty or financial irregularities, will be taken seriously by a court than information obtained through other means. Preventative measures may also help you avoid future incidents. Contact Ao Services today!