BACKGROUND
CHECKS: A SMART WAY OF DOING BUSINESS
A recent survey of 30,000 background checks across the nation
found that 16% of the applicants had a criminal record, or had a falsification or other
discrepancy in their applications.
Perhaps the sudden surge of interest in criminal background checks for employees was sparked by news that two of the airports the terrorists flew out of were staffed by a security company that had been fined a year earlier for not properly training or checking the backgrounds of its employees.
Much concern followed the September 11 terrorist attacks. This historic event made employers, all over the country seek some assurance that their roster of employees where who they say they are.
One of the best ways to ensure the credibility of the employee is a pre-employment screening. More and more employers are finding this to be a procedure that is essential for creating peace of mind.
With Nationwide Screening, an in-house report can be ordered on the internet with a specially designed website and your own password for security and privacy. The information will be delivered to you on the website in your office in a short time.
With the E.S.A.G. reporting system all orders for employment screenings must have a signed release from the present or prospective employee. Should the report reveal criminal information, the employer may legally choose not to hire the person. There are specific procedures for firing the employee with discredited credentials.
Workplace violence tops the list of ten greatest employee-related concerns among Fortune 1000 security executives according to a March, 1999 survey conducted by Pinkerton, Inc. Crisis management and executive protection tied for second place. Drugs, ethics, and property crime are among other concerns.
Did
you know?
What can you do? Although the experts disagree on how to completely prevent workplace violence, many agree on the steps that a company should take to reduce the frequency of assaults. Here are some steps to take to lessen the possibility that it will happen to you:
Establish a well-written employee handbook that outlines what employees should do when they suspect the possibility of workplace violence. This should include a system for anonymous notification, including telephone, fax, email and person to person notification.
Train
management in
regard to the
recognizable signs of possible workplace violence.
Pre-screen applicants before hiring. Many times previous behavior in the
workplace is an indicator of future problems.
Implement
measures that limit the exposure
to workplace violence a worker may face. These include employee photo tags,
onsite guards and/or coded keys.
How to recognize signs of potential workplace violence
Although
detecting possible workplace violence is not an exact science, savvy managers
and owners can detect warning signs that may prevent the unthinkable from
happening, such as:
Resources for employers
If your company is considering implementing a workplace violence prevention strategy, here are some resources you might check:
Overall plan guidelines: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration Division http://www.dol.gov/
Consulting/conflict management advice: Hrzone (http://www.hrzone.com/)
Pre-employment
screening: Nationwide Screening (http://nationwidescreening.tripod.com)
Physical security devices: Security Industry Association (http://www.siaonline.org/)
By addressing the issue of workplace violence and how to prevent it, a company can easily prevent the unthinkable from happening.