Screen Employees

Paul Stretton-Stephens says that employee screening can prevent a variety of unpleasant surprises, and gives some tips on screening the screeners

According to recent surveys, well over two-thirds of all business fraud in the UK is committed by employees. And a MORI survey suggested that more than 7.5 million of Britain's 25.3 million working population have misled their potential employer when applying for a job.Every day, some job candidates and employees live a lie, one that could potentially cost their employer thousands of pounds. While most of your employees will be honest, it only takes one rogue to upset your operations. Normally, employers only find this out when it is too late.When an employer discovers a troublesome employee, they have a number of potential courses of action, the ultimate being dismissal. That dismissed employee will most likely then apply for a job elsewhere, and may well not disclose the chequered past. The question for potential employers is therefore, 'how do I really know that the candidates are who they say they are, and that there is nothing in their past that could affect their performance in the future?'For some employers the pain can be eased considerably with the use of employment screening, otherwise known as vetting or background checks. Increasingly, employers consider this to be an invaluable risk reduction tool. And both candidates and existing employees can be screened.What can screening uncover?
There are varying levels of screening services on the market, but essentially all employers believe that, when recruiting, it is fundamental to ensure that the candidates are who they claim to be. Too many employers have discovered that failure to verify a candidate's credentials, qualifications, background and the validity of referees, can seriously damage the smooth running of a business.Screening can only legally be performed with the candidate's permission, in order to assist the employer in finding the right person for the right position.In early 2002, we saw headlines such as:Teacher admits sex offences
Gambler stole to cover debt
US teacher sent home for club visit with boy
Woman stole
Rogue trader strikes again
Nurse force-fed disabled resident
Man made false documents
In the absence of effective employment screening, a business may risk becoming the subject of a similar headline.Employment screening is available to all businesses, regardless of the type and size. There are, of course, several types of business that commonly use screening, such as financial services, education, occupations involving work with vulnerable members of society and, increasingly, the retail sector.There is a clear reason why the retail sector is high on the list of users. According to the Centre for Retail Research, the UK is suffering from the worst retail theft in Western Europe (1.76% of turnover). The average loss for European retailers was 1.42% (about £17.7bn) a year. While nearly half of the thefts can be attributed to customers, staff theft accounts for 29%.Using agencies
When using recruitment or employment agencies - temporary or permanent - employers would do well to enquire what level of background checks their selected agency undertakes. Such services are not inexpensive, and it is perfectly reasonable for an employer to establish that they are receiving value for money. Moreover, employers need to know that every effort has been made to prevent future problems. No business likes unwanted surprises.Selecting a screening service
Employers should also take care when choosing an employment screening service. As in every industry, there are some rogues. Here are some simple guidelines for making your selection.