Employee background checks are an essential part of the retail and business world. Every year retailers experience high dollar losses related to dishonest employees or employees that were not processed through a pre employment screening process.
Recently, I worked for a company where background checks were not a priority. In one store, a newly hired employee showed strong management potential. During store visits, this employee was always on point, spoke intelligently about the business and demonstrated strong business acumen. I remember hearing the comments from the senior management staff about this employee and how he was destined to be the next store manager at this high sales volume store.
At this company, the senior staff was not overly concerned about background checks for employees because they believed they had the competence to identify potential “monsters” and we good judges of character. Moreover, to this company, pre employment screening was a waste of money and a criminal background check was absolutely not necessary and overkill. During one conversation, I mentioned a background check company I had worked with in the past, and said this company could very easily, seamlessly come in and perform a criminal background check on potential management employees.
Not taking my advice, the senior management staff promoted this new employee to a co-manager position. He started off strong and demonstrated his willingness. He was given more responsibility and access to various points of the store. Within a year, he made store manager. Within the next year, he made off with over $100k in cash and merchandise that he and his friends planned on since his promotion.
Had the company simply invested in the effort of pre employment screening and background checks, this loss could’ve been prevented. During the investigation, I discovered this employee had been terminated from a previous employer for embezzlement. He had a serious criminal history that could have easily been identified with a criminal background check, and this loss could have been prevented.
Background check experts are not only good at employee background checks; they are directed to help prevent losses in your business with thorough pre employment screening.
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For more information on pre employment screening, background checks, criminal background check, background check experts and background check company contact us at employee background checks or call us at 1.770.426.0547
