On Saturday, September 29, 2012, the News and Observer covered the story of Annie Dookhan, a chemist at a Massachusetts drug lab. This story underscores some of the devastation that can result when an organization doesn’t follow basic security principles which require both screening and guardianship. The lack of screening and guardianship at the Massachusetts state drug lab has already …
Over the last couple weeks we have had too many examples of workplace violence and the devastation and the long-term impact it has on the business and the community. As security consultants, we partner with clients to protect their assets, and two of the most critical assets that any company has are its people and its reputation/brand. With that said, …
Based on experience with some of our clients, there seems to be an assumption that applicants for C-level positions are somehow immune from falsifying information and are above reproach. The assumption seems to be that since an applicant has worked at “Alpha Company”, there is no need for “Beta Company” to do a thorough background investigation. The faulty logic is …
Why do we ask for race/ethnicity on background investigation request forms? Because all of these women are Julie Jones. Which one is applying for a job at your company? You may have seen them in person, but the person conducting the background investigation has not. When obtaining a criminal record in North Carolina, for example, results often look like this: …
What’s wrong with this picture? The time the applicant spent in Tennessee. An employment application or resume from an applicant is a good place to start, but it should not be used as the sole source of information about the applicant’s previous locations. Relying solely on the information provided by the applicant can miss vital information about their suitability for …
Background screening is an essential tool in today’s business. Choosing the best candidate for the job requires due diligence on the part of management. An effective screening policy protects the business, its assets, and ultimately increases a positive return on the investment. We recommend a policy that is flexible but non-discriminatory because it aligns the scope with the position. The …
AP IMPACT: When your criminal past isn’t yours Out of work two years, her unemployment benefits exhausted, in danger of losing her apartment, Casey applied for a job in the pharmacy of a Boston drugstore. She was offered $11 an hour. All she had to do was pass a background check. It turned up a 14-count criminal indictment. Kathleen Casey …
SBI investigates Leland’s former Asst. Town Manager Excerpts from article: Michelle Cox was hired by the Town of Leland in January, and left after about six months on the job. During that time she was the highest ranking female employee in Leland, and was assigned to investigate claims of sexual harassment filed by Officer Sherry Lewis. About the same time, …
John hired Cindy as a part-time receptionist for Acme, Inc. several years ago while she was still attending college. Acme has a policy that requires a pre-employment background investigation for candidates prior to extending an offer of employment. As part of the procedure, managers ask candidates to complete an application in addition to providing their resume. On the application, the …
Why did the chicken cross the road? You know the rhetorical question and the answer: to get to the other side. But would the chicken cross a six-lane highway during rush hour traffic with his eyes closed? I think not; chickens are smarter than that. I use that old joke to illustrate the dangers and risks some companies assume if …