The High Cost of Failing to Screen

With competition in the job market surging, companies have to be diligent with their hiring practices. Taking on new employees under false pretenses can lead strong businesses, especially staffing agencies, into dangerous and unstable situations.

While background screening is not always required by law, it has quickly become recognized as a best practice for employers seeking to hire effective candidates while avoiding unnecessary risks. Some of these risks can include:

• • Legal Action – The rationale behind negligent hiring lawsuits is that businesses should know their employees won’t commit any crime on the job, and should make every effort to ensure their employees pose no threat to the business or others. Lawsuits negatively affect many assets within a company, including public relations and the relationship between employees and supervisors or HR. Employers lose negligent lawsuits 79% of the time.
  • An Unsafe Workplace – According to OSHA, “[Two] million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year.” Workplace violence often happens without warning, but background screening services can uncover previously reported instances of violence that may indicate a future susceptibility to risky behavior.
  • Reputation Management – Managing your company’s public image is more challenging than ever in today’s social sharing climate. When a business’ due diligence measures are scrutinized, public uncertainty can be aimed at their services and products as well. Staffing agencies should be particularly concerned with validating an applicant’s provided history, such that they maintain a reputation for supplying employers with vetted talent.

The Cost is Too Great to Neglect Screening

When buying a house, interior renovations won’t help a cracked foundation; the same idea applies to corporate hiring. Companies that hire without screening their employees are buying houses without checking the foundation, and all the time, money, and hard work spent renovating the inside are eventually lost if the whole structure comes tumbling down.

Studies show than more than 50% of resumes are misleading in some way; however, when asked, more than 70% of people claim they have never lied or misrepresented themselves on a resume. So which is true for the candidate sitting across from your desk, dressed appropriately with a great employment history and a bachelor’s degree?

Without a comprehensive background check, you can’t be sure. Get the Whole Story on your applicants and make sure their information is verified, signed, sealed, and delivered before making any hiring decision that will impact your company.

About Tammy Cohen

Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.

About InfoMart

InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.