Code of Conduct and Policy Violations
Company code of conduct and policy violations can have a serious impact on your business. Protect your assets and your company culture by hiring a workplace investigation firm. At Ablin Law, we investigate potential violations thoroughly and with an unbiased eye. Let Ablin Law handle the investigation so you can continue to serve your clients.
Common Signs of a Code Of Conduct or Policy Violation
Code of conduct and policy violations can happen anywhere, in any industry. Violations are not always clear-cut. More often than not, rules are bent rather than outright broken. Bending the rules may be seen more frequently in cash-heavy industries, such as restaurants. Most commonly, code of conduct violations involve the fraudulent use of company finances. This could include unapproved travel expenses, unauthorized office purchases, or, say, an employee throwing a party on the company credit card. The case may also include ethics violations, conflicts of interest, or management practices that don’t align with the code of conduct.
Code of conduct and policy violations are not always clear-cut. Hire an independent investigation firm like Ablin Law to clarify the situation and provide guidance on how to move forward.
Company code of conduct and policy violations can have a serious impact on your business. Protect your assets and your company culture by hiring a workplace investigation firm. At Ablin Law, we investigate potential violations thoroughly and with an unbiased eye. Let Ablin Law handle the investigation so you can continue to serve your clients.
Code of conduct and policy violations are not always clear-cut. Hire an independent investigation firm like Ablin Law to clarify the situation and provide guidance on how to move forward.
Common Signs of a Code Of Conduct or Policy Violation
Code of conduct and policy violations can happen anywhere, in any industry. Violations are not always clear-cut. More often than not, rules are bent rather than outright broken. Bending the rules may be seen more frequently in cash-heavy industries, such as restaurants. Most commonly, code of conduct violations involve the fraudulent use of company finances. This could include unapproved travel expenses, unauthorized office purchases, or, say, a vice president throwing a party on the company credit card. The case may also include ethics violations, conflicts of interest, or management practices that don’t align with the code of conduct.
Code of conduct violations can also involve claims of unprofessional conduct as well as bullying. This kind of behavior may also crossover into claims of harassment and discrimination. An independent workplace investigation will help you to untangle a complicated situation and to decide on the best way to move forward.
How Ablin Law Investigates Code of Conduct Violations
Before founding Ablin Law, Rachel Ablin began her legal career as an investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She then gained experience in the corporate world as an in-house attorney. Experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants allows Rachel and her team to conduct unbiased investigations. You can rest assured that Ablin Law will conduct a thorough, efficient, and unbiased investigation.
Ablin Law investigations begin by speaking with the complainant. We use that interview to determine the subject of the violation, identify any potential witnesses, and/or uncover documentation of the incident. In every interview, we assess each person’s credibility, asking both specific and open-ended questions. Having conducted these investigations for years, we know how to make interviewees feel comfortable opening up. When they feel relaxed rather than rigid or uptight, they are more open and we are better able to obtain a full picture of the situation.
After gathering and documenting all findings, we complete a report, and we may also provide a recommendation for remediation if requested. Ultimately, however, it is up to the company to decide how to proceed. The investigation may also reveal flaws in the company’s code of conduct or other policies. When that occurs, we can recommend concrete steps to take to help prevent future violations.
Benefits of Hiring an Independent Workplace Investigation Firm
Your in-house Human Resources team may not have the bandwidth or legal experience to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. They may also be put in a difficult position if someone higher-up within the company is being investigated, especially if a member of the C-Suite is involved and the HR department reports to them. Hiring an independent workplace investigator will allow them to continue their day-to-day responsibilities without interruption.
In-house investigations can appear biased, especially if the report finds in favor of a high-level employee. Furthermore, using an in-house attorney, or outside counsel with whom the company has a longstanding relationship, to conduct an investigation can cause a potential conflict of interest since your attorney may end up as both an advocate and a witness. At the same time, there is a common perception, for better or worse, that internal investigations aim to protect the wrongdoer. Hiring an outside investigator will take the weight of being neutral off your attorney or human resources professional, so they can continue doing their jobs.
Show your shareholders that you take their investments seriously, and avoid potential allegations that a violation is being swept under the rug. Choose an independent investigation firm like Ablin Law to ensure that, no matter how complex the case, company funds are being used properly, and that other code of conduct or policy violations are addressed promptly and thoroughly.