Why do businesses hire private investigators?

Most people still picture private investigators the same way Hollywood has for decades: sitting in parked cars, following cheating spouses and hiding behind dark sunglasses.

But according to Rocky Pipkin, that's not really what private investigators do.

For many businesses, private investigators have become independent fact-finders brought in when workplace problems begin affecting operations, profitability or employee morale.

At Pipkin Detective Agency, much of the work now centers on helping employers investigate internal theft, workplace misconduct, harassment complaints and operational concerns that business owners often struggle to handle internally.

"We are primarily a liaison between private business, private individuals and law enforcement," Pipkin said. "There are things law enforcement can do and things they can't do. That's where we come in."

What types of workplace issues can private investigators investigate?

Businesses often hire investigators to help uncover:

• Internal theft

• Workplace misconduct

• Harassment complaints

• Workplace disputes

• Operational concerns

• Inventory loss

• Billing discrepancies

  
  

Why hire an independent investigator?

According to Pipkin, many companies know something is wrong but lack the documentation or evidence needed to determine what is happening.

Rather than relying on confrontations, investigators gather facts by reviewing records, conducting interviews, identifying patterns and determining how misconduct may have gone unnoticed.