Corporate Investigations: Protect Your Business

As a senior detective, I see every day how quickly threats change for businesses. Today, corporate investigations are no longer just an option; they are a smart, necessary part of running a company. Think of them as a vital shield, essential for keeping your business safe and sound in a world that’s getting more complicated.

These company inquiries, often called internal probes, do many things. They help you find and fix problems that are already hurting your business. But, more importantly, they play a key role in stopping future risks. It’s about taking action before trouble strikes. It shows everyone that your company is in control and wants to build a place where people can trust each other.

When facing these challenges, My Own Detective stands ready as the expert agency for businesses. With proven skill and discretion, we handle these investigations with care and professionalism.

This guide will take you deep into the world of corporate investigations. We’ll look at why they are so important, the different dangers they help fight – from unfair competition to handling problems inside your company – and how they are done while strictly following the law. Get ready to see how making corporate investigations part of your plan can be your best move.

Preventing External Threats: Why Corporate Investigations Matter

Your business is like a living thing, always facing dangers that can make it weak or stop it from growing. Think of building a strong castle: to make it last, you don’t just fix holes; you watch carefully around the walls to spot dangers before they even get close. Corporate investigations are just like this advanced watch system. They are designed to find outside threats before it’s too late.

Understanding Unfair Competition

Imagine you’ve worked hard to build your business. Then, a rival shows up and starts using methods that seem… well, not fair. This is what unfair competition is all about. It’s not just tough business; it’s a fight using rules that are not allowed.

This can show up in many sneaky ways: taking your customers away wrongly, saying bad things (even if not true) about your business or products (this is called disparagement), or trying to benefit from your good name without doing any work themselves (parasitism). It also includes a former employee or partner breaking a rule that says they can’t work for a rival.

These actions can really hurt your sales and your good name. A sudden drop in sales that you can’t figure out, or key employees leaving to join a direct rival, are clear signs that something might be wrong. Don’t ignore them.

When you see these signs, you need to act fast and start a careful investigation. The goal is clear: gather solid proof of these against-the-rules actions. This evidence will support you whether you try to work things out nicely or go to court.

Getting this evidence is tricky. It must follow the law exactly. Accusing someone without proof is risky, and any investigation must remember that people are innocent until proven guilty and respect their rights. That’s why getting help from a specialized agency is helpful when dealing with these hard situations.

These business investigations give you a clear picture of what’s happening, the exact facts to understand how much you’ve been hurt, and the real evidence you need to decide what to do next: send a warning letter, take legal action for unfair competition, or ask for money to cover your losses.

Handling Contracts and Agreements

How businesses work together is set out in contracts and agreements. These papers are the base for trust and trading. But sometimes, these bases can be shaken, like when a contract is ended wrongly.

A contract is ended wrongly when one party finishes an agreement without a good reason, causing big problems for the other party. This can mess up a whole supply chain or how a business gets its products to customers.

Doing a company inquiry in this case means finding out the real reasons why the contract was ended and gathering evidence to show that the decision was unfair. This is a key step to protect your rights and get things set right.

Another very important point is the non-compete clause. Whether it’s in a paper for selling a business or a job contract, this rule stops a person from doing a similar job for a certain time and in a certain area. It’s very important for keeping a business’s special knowledge and customers safe.

It can be tempting for people not to follow this non-compete rule. The investigation’s job is then to check if they are keeping their promise. This means looking for proof of the rival activity: papers, messages, talks with people, signs in the market, etc. The goal is to build a strong case showing they broke the rule.

All these contract-related investigations must be done while fully understanding business law and job law. Getting proof illegally would mean you can’t use it in court. So, having expert help in this area is a must.

Fighting Against Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting is a big problem for businesses. It harms new ideas and money that businesses put in. It’s when someone makes or copies a product, brand, or design without being allowed. Think of fancy goods, clothes, and tech, but also parts for machines… No one is safe.

Besides losing money straight away, counterfeiting makes a brand look bad and can hurt what customers think if the copied products are not good quality. It’s a sneaky way of being unfair to rivals.

If you think someone is counterfeiting your products, your business needs to act fast. An investigation is needed to find the people making the fakes and understand how they make and sell them. Where are the fake items made? How do they get to shops? Who are the people in the middle?

This investigation needs careful gathering of proof: looking at papers, watching places where things are sold or sent, checking online, and talking to people who might know something (witnesses). You need to put the pieces together to get a full picture of the group doing this wrong.

The information you get helps you see how much you’ve lost, how many fake goods there are, and the risk to your company’s image. With this case built, the business can then think about taking legal steps. For example, seizing the fake goods is a legal action that can quickly stop the wrong activities and take the copied products away. For this, the proof from your investigation must be strong and found the right way.

Handling Internal Issues: Internal Corporate Investigations in Action

While dangers from outside are tough, problems that start inside the business can be just as harmful. A lack of trust, or employees doing things that are against the rules or the law, can make people feel bad, slow down work, and cause big money losses. Internal investigations are the key tool for dealing with these touchy situations wisely and well.

Uncovering Sick Leave Abuse and Hidden Work

Being allowed to take time off when sick is important for employees. But using this rule wrongly – sick leave abuse – costs businesses a lot of money and makes things harder for the teams who are still working. An employee who says they are sick but aren’t, or who works another job while on sick leave, is doing something wrong that needs looking into.

Checking if sick leave is real is a sensitive task that touches on a person’s private life. The investigation must be done very carefully. It should only look at clear facts that show the employee isn’t sick like they said, without going into their private life any more than needed. Quietly watching someone or checking certain things can be done, but always following the current laws.

Hidden work (or undeclared work) is another worry. This is when an employee has another job that the main employer doesn’t know about. This can be a problem if it causes a conflict of interest, if they use company stuff for their side job, or if their other job helps a rival. Government sites often give info on reporting tax fraud, which relates to hidden work.

An investigation into hidden work aims to gather real proof of this other job: bills, ads, talks with people who know, things found on social media (if they are public and helpful). Again, the proof must be gathered fairly and follow the law.

If the investigation proves what’s happening, the business has clear facts to think about taking action against the employee. This could mean a warning or even firing them for serious bad behaviour, while always carefully following the rules of the job contract.

Investigating Theft and Misuse of Trust

Theft at work and an employee misusing trust are direct attacks on the company’s things and good rules. Whether it’s taking equipment, secret information, or money, these actions break the basic trust between the employer and the employee.

These situations, sadly happening quite often, cost a lot of money and cause big worries for everyone. They need a quick and clear plan to protect the business and make things right again.

As soon as you think something is wrong, the first step is to make sure the areas and information linked to the problem are safe. A good internal investigation starts by gathering all possible proof. This can mean looking at security camera videos (following the law), checking computer records, looking at who went where, checking money records, and, very importantly, talking to other employees as witnesses. This must be done very privately.

It’s very important to talk to people kindly and professionally, telling them why you are doing the investigation and keeping their names secret if needed. The person you think might have done wrong must also be heard, as is their right to defend themselves.

Physical proof and what witnesses say must be clear and match up. Based on this information, the company can decide what to do. This could be taking action against the employee (like firing them for serious bad behaviour) or even reporting it to the police. A careful investigation makes it less likely that the decision will be argued against later in court.

Dealing with Radicalization: A Serious Matter

Though not as common, the issue of radicalization in the workplace is very serious and cannot be ignored. Extreme behaviour or talk within the company can create fear, mess things up, and in the worst cases, be a real danger. ACAS in the UK offers advice on preventing discrimination, which links to creating an inclusive and safe workplace.

Stopping this before it starts is the first line of defence: teaching employees about small signs to look for, encouraging them to report worries (maybe through a special way to tell someone safely), and helping people talk openly. Working closely with the HR department and legal teams is key to handling these sensitive topics.

If there are serious worries, an internal investigation might be thought about, but only if it is absolutely needed and done with the most care. Respecting each person’s freedom is very important here. The goal is not to watch what people think, but to make sure there is no real danger to people’s safety or the business.

In such cases, it is strongly suggested not to act alone. It’s best to get in touch with the right authorities (like the police) who have the tools and knowledge to check and handle such risks. The company has a duty to keep its employees safe, but it shouldn’t try to do the job of the police.

People-Related Investigations: Using Corporate Investigations in HR

Corporate investigations aren’t just about outside threats or regular crimes. They also look into situations that directly involve job relationships or people’s work history. The aim is to protect the business from legal risks and damage to its good name caused by people who work there now or might work there in the future.

When an Employment Contract Ends

The end of a job contract isn’t always easy. Sometimes, an employee might decide to leave because of things they say the employer did wrong. This is called a constructive dismissal (or taking an act to end the contract). The employee feels that the employer’s mistakes are so bad that they must leave the job right away, and it’s the employer’s fault.

When an employee does this, the business is in a tough spot. It needs to quickly check if what the employee says is true or if they are ending the contract for no good reason. It’s a big deal: if a court agrees with the employee, it’s like being fired without a good reason, and the company might have to pay a lot of money. If the court says the employee was wrong, it’s like quitting, which costs the company less.

An internal investigation is very important here. It aims to check if the things the employee said happened are true. Did the employer really make serious mistakes (not paying wages, bullying, changing the contract without asking, etc.)? The investigation gathers proof (papers, emails, talks with people) to make the situation clear and help the business defend itself if the case goes to court. A careful investigation helps lower the risk and money worries.

Checking a Resume (CV)

A resume (or CV) is what a person uses to show their work history, skills, and education. But have you ever thought that this paper might be… not totally true? Sadly, lying on a resume is something that happens.

Lying about a degree, making up a job they never had, saying their job was bigger than it was… People do this for different reasons, but the result is the same: hiring someone whose skills or honesty aren’t what you expected. This can cause problems for the business, affecting how well things get done, breaking trust, and even causing safety issues.

Checking a resume, also known as a background check, is a way to stop problems before they happen. It means checking the main things the person said. Did they really get that degree? Did they truly work for that company when they said they did? Were their job duties really what they wrote down?

This check must be done professionally and follow the rules exactly (especially data protection laws like GDPR). The information gathered must be about the job they are applying for, and the person must know you are checking. It’s not about looking into their private life, but about checking facts about their skills and work history. The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) in the UK gives clear rules on checking job applicants’ details.

Using a special agency for this background check makes sure it’s done the right way, following the law and good rules. This helps protect you from bad surprises and makes your hiring safer.

Conducting Effective Corporate Investigations: Rules & Steps

Doing a corporate investigation or an internal probe isn’t something you can just start doing without planning. It’s a careful process that follows clear steps and must stay within strict legal rules. Think of building a strong house: you need clear plans, good materials, and you must follow the building rules.

About Commercial Investigations

Commercial investigations are a smart tool for businesses. They are for gathering information to help make important choices or to protect yourself. This could be knowing more about a market, checking if a partner can pay their bills, or finding signs of unfair competition.

These business inquiries use different methods: searching public records, reading news and business papers, quietly watching things happen on the ground (if needed and legal), talking to people who know things (experts, former employees, always following the law).

The goal is to gather physical proof: official papers, photos, recordings (if allowed), messages. Then you must look at and compare this information to check if it is real and can be trusted (checking information against each other). This checking is how raw information becomes useful facts.

A well-written report from a commercial investigation gives leaders a clear picture, facts with proof, and often ideas on what to do to fix the problem and change the business’s plan if needed.

Following the Rules (Legal Framework)

This is a *very important* point: an internal or corporate investigation is only legal and useful if it follows a strict legal framework. Not following these rules can cause big problems for the business (proof not being allowed in court, legal action against the company). Laws about work, crime, and data protection are the key rules to follow.

“Investigation findings are only as strong as the legal foundation upon which they are built. Proper procedure isn’t just a formality; it’s the guarantee of validity.” – Clara, Senior Detective, My Own Detective

The main rules to follow are:

• Keeping things Secret: All the information you collect is sensitive and must be kept very private.
• Fair Proof: Proof cannot be found by ways that are against the law, unfair, or secret. No tricks, no spying too much if the law doesn’t allow it.
• Believed Innocent: Everyone involved in the investigation is believed to be innocent until it is proven in court that they are not.
• Right to Defend: The person the investigation is about must be told about it, what they are thought to have done, and be given a chance to speak up for themselves.
• Keeping things Balanced: The steps taken for the investigation must fit how serious the problems are said to be.

Courts look very closely at how internal investigations are done. A mistake in how it was done can mean the proof isn’t used and any actions taken against the employee are stopped. This shows why getting help from experts, like a licensed private investigator agency, is so important. They know the legal framework perfectly and make sure things are done fairly and correctly.

Steps for a Good Investigation

A successful internal investigation follows clear steps. Missing one can mess up the whole process and mean the results can’t be used.

Here are the main parts:

1. Checking if the Report is Real: It starts when someone tells you something is wrong (an employee complains, management thinks something is up, an audit shows a problem…). You need to see if the report seems real and how serious it is to decide if you should start an investigation. This is like a first check.
2. Planning the Investigation: Clearly decide what the investigation is about, how far it will go, what facts need checking, who you need to talk to. You need to choose one or more people from inside or outside the company to do the investigation, making sure they are fair and work on their own.
3. Gathering Proof: This is when the real work happens. It involves collecting papers (emails, files, records), talking to the people involved and witnesses, and if needed, technical checks (on computers, money records). It’s very important to write down every step and everything you find.
4. Following the Law: While gathering proof, you must always follow the rules we talked about: keeping things secret, being fair, respecting people’s rights, keeping things balanced. Don’t try to take shortcuts.
5. Looking at the Proof and Writing the Report: All the proof is looked at and compared. The facts are written down clearly and without taking sides. The final report puts everything together, describes what really happened, and might include ideas on how to fix the problem (warnings, changing rules, training).
6. What Happens Next and Checking Up: The report is given to the person or group in the company who makes decisions (management, HR, ethics group). They decide what to do (warning, going to court, finding a middle ground…). Checking up to make sure the problem is really fixed and that the company learns from it is often needed.

Following these steps makes sure the process is done correctly, the proof can be used, and the decisions made are fair. It helps keep the business safe from legal problems.

My Own Detective: Your Partner for Corporate Investigations

As we’ve seen, corporate investigations and internal probes are powerful tools that are needed to protect your business. They give you the power to deal with a world that isn’t always certain, to spot dangers (whether they are from outside or inside), and to make smart choices that keep you safe.

Whether you are facing unfair competition, fighting against counterfeiting, dealing with tricky problems inside (sick leave abuse, theft, employees misusing trust), or making sure your new hires are honest (by checking resumes), an investigation done properly and following the law is key.

Getting strong, fair proof is vital, because your future actions, whether they involve warnings, civil court, or criminal court, depend on it. This is a big job that needs to be taken seriously.

This is exactly where a licensed private investigator agency like My Own Detective becomes your important partner. With skill and discretion that people trust, we help businesses in France and Switzerland with these challenges.

We know how to do investigations while fully following the legal rules, making sure the proof we collect can be used. Our way of working is very professional, focused on facts and finding the truth.

My Own Detective supports you every step of the way: from looking at what you need and planning how the investigation will work, to giving you a detailed report you can use. Our goal is to give you the power to act knowing all the facts, to protect your business, make things safer, and keep trust strong inside your company.

Don’t let doubts or dangers make your business weak. Corporate investigations are an investment in your business lasting a long time and giving you peace of mind. Call on our expertise to get them done right.

FAQ on Corporate Investigations

When should I think about doing a corporate investigation?

You should think about a corporate investigation as soon as you have strong reasons to believe something illegal, against the rules, or harmful to your business is happening. This could be unfair competition, counterfeiting, theft, fraud, bullying, or checking if contracts are being broken. A quick investigation helps stop bigger problems and gather needed information before it disappears.

What’s the difference between an internal investigation and a corporate investigation?

These words are often used for the same thing. Usually, “internal investigation” means looking into problems inside the company involving employees (theft, bullying, fraud inside). “Corporate investigation” is a bigger term that includes problems inside and outside (unfair competition, counterfeiting, checking partners, etc.). For both, doing it the right way and following the law are very important.

Is proof collected by a private investigator legal?

Yes, proof collected by a licensed private investigator agency can be used in court if it is gathered fairly and strictly follows the law (like rules about jobs, crime, and data protection). This is why it’s vital to use professionals who know and follow these rules carefully.

How much does a corporate investigation cost?

The cost of a corporate investigation changes a lot based on what kind of problem it is, how hard it is, how long it takes, and what needs to be done (looking at papers, watching, talking to people…). It’s not possible to give just one number. A good agency will tell you how much it will cost after looking at your situation and what you need the investigation to do. Think of it like spending money to protect your business from losing a lot more money or having legal problems later.

How does My Own Detective keep things secret?

Keeping things secret is key to what we do. Our detectives are trained to work so they are not seen and don’t bother anyone. All information is kept very private. We use methods that let us get the proof needed without letting the people involved know, keeping the investigation secret and protecting your business’s interests.