ees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Sec

According to the 2005 Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, Inc. shoplifters and dishonest employees continue to steal in record numbers. The survey reports that thieves stole over $5.8 million from the responding retailers in 2005. In addition, over 670,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended and over $127 million was recovered from these thefts.

One of the most interesting (yet frightening), aspects of the survey shows that the average amount in cash/merchandise that a dishonest employee stole was $724.15 (per theft). This contrasts significantly with the average amount that a shoplifter stole which was $126.87 (per theft).

What do these statistics mean to you as a business owner? First and foremost, is that background checks should play an important role in the hiring process and should be completed on all potential and current employees. There have been many times that a dishonest employee was caught stealing or committing fraud where the employer was astonished and said “That was my most (trusted/hard working/long time/favorite) employee”.

When it comes to employee background checks I think Ronald Reagan sums it up the best when he said, “Trust, but verify”. Should you trust your employees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Secu

loyees were apprehended and over $127 million was recovered from these thefts.

One of the most interesting (yet frightening), aspects of the survey shows that the average amount in cash/merchandise that a dishonest employee stole was $724.15 (per theft). This contrasts significantly with the average amount that a shoplifter stole which was $126.87 (per theft).

What do these statistics mean to you as a business owner? First and foremost, is that background checks should play an important role in the hiring process and should be completed on all potential and current employees. There have been many times that a dishonest employee was caught stealing or committing fraud where the employer was astonished and said “That was my most (trusted/hard working/long time/favorite) employee”.

When it comes to employee background checks I think Ronald Reagan sums it up the best when he said, “Trust, but verify”. Should you trust your employees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Sec

a shoplifter stole which was $126.87 (per theft).

What do these statistics mean to you as a business owner? First and foremost, is that background checks should play an important role in the hiring process and should be completed on all potential and current employees. There have been many times that a dishonest employee was caught stealing or committing fraud where the employer was astonished and said “That was my most (trusted/hard working/long time/favorite) employee”.

When it comes to employee background checks I think Ronald Reagan sums it up the best when he said, “Trust, but verify”. Should you trust your employees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Sec

employee was caught stealing or committing fraud where the employer was astonished and said “That was my most (trusted/hard working/long time/favorite) employee”.

When it comes to employee background checks I think Ronald Reagan sums it up the best when he said, “Trust, but verify”. Should you trust your employees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Sec

ees? Absolutely. Can you trust your employees? Not unless you have the proper checks and balances in place. A through background check helps put the odds in the employers favor.

At a minimum I would recommend that the following be conducted on all of your current and prospective employees:

• Social Security Number Verification
• Criminal History Check
• Previous Employment Verification

For key employees such as those in management or those with access to sensitive information I would add a credit check as well. Financial need has driven many honest employees to feel that must commit theft/fraud to solve their problem.

The steps listed are cost-effective and can help provide you with some assurance that your employees are who they say they are. You want to know this when they are hired, not after they have stolen from you.