Corporate snoops

Citation

(2007), "Corporate snoops", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 15 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/hrmid.2007.04415bad.002

Corporate snoops

Corporate snoops

Orey M. Business Week (USA),9 October 2006, Start page: 47 (3 pages)

Purpose – To examine the practice of hiring corporate spies by blue-chip companies. Design/methodology/approach – Puts forward that the scandal unfolding at Hewlett-Packard, over its tactic of using spying tactics on employees, is not an isolated incident; reports how increasing numbers of large corporations are employing private investigators to improve security. Outlines how corporations defend this practice by pointing out that they are unable to obtain the evidence by any other means and believe that their enemies are using underhand tactics themselves. Draws attention to concerns that the industry is attracting a large number of ”cowboy” operators who are only too willing to undertake illegal activity; provides case study examples and reports on cases where private investigator firms have got their fingers burnt; describes some of the techniques used by corporate investigators. Originality/value – Homes in on the growing number of private investigators hired to spy for large corporations.Reference: 35AY858

Keywords: Business ethics, Crimes, Surveillance