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Corporate Security Investigations must have a meaningful & well-defined objective, be properly & lawfully executed, be fair & impartial, & the results accurately documented & communicated. In order for them to be effective, they must unfold incrementally & progressively in distinct phases. Each progressive phase is engineered to build on the phase that preceded it.
Theft, violence, dishonesty, misappropriation, harassment etc. that occur in the workplace environment have become more organized, systematic & sophisticated. Many laws in the area of employee relations effectively require employers to conduct an immediate, pre-emptive & fair investigation to ascertain the truth & facts. However, an internal workplace investigation can cause serious harm if it is poorly conducted & managed. “Failure to understand & control such risks may increase the employer’s exposure to grievances, lawsuits, & human rights & privacy complaints.
Large or small, organizations of all sizes routinely conduct internal workplace investigations. When properly conducted, workplace investigations are complex affairs. They typically involve the convergence of many disciplines and an assortment of uncommon skills. They also require a considerable investment of time, money and patience by the employer. Then, finally, to ensure success, the process must be highly structured and flawlessly executed. Even the most sophisticated organizations can find the task consistently challenging.
Every organization, public or private, eventually finds itself in need of an internal investigation, be it the suspicious disappearance of tangible or intangible assets, the questionable ethical practices of an employee, or the troubling allegation of sexual harassment. Sooner or later, every organization is also confronted with the need to gather evidence, interview suspects, and uncover the truth. With the ability to muster the necessary resources, deploy skilled factfinders, and adhere to a disciplined process, any organization can conduct a successful workplace investigation. |