The Importance Of Employment Screening And Continued Vigilance.

Most of the screening agencies offer a multi level service, for example financial checks can be made to see what sort of credit history a candidate might have, confirmation of a full driving license, criminal record check, sex offender history, tenant suitability and so on.

But even if you have had your employees screened prior to them joining your work force you should still remain vigilant. Research has shown that certain behaviour patterns can indicate that an employee is no longer competent or may even have ulterior motives.

Look for changes in;

Personal Circumstances

For example has an employee had any major or unexplained changes in lifestyle or expenditure?

Attitude To Colleagues

Have relationships with their co-workers changed at all, particularly when someone gets promotion, do they appear to be getting stressed or short tempered?

Performance

Have they been under performing recently, are they continually being late or having unrealistic excuses for persistent absenteeism, does their behaviour suggest problems with alcohol or drugs?

Extreme Viewpoints

Are they expressing racist, religious or other prejudicial comments, are they becoming unpopular with their colleagues, do they appear to be bullying or threatening to others?

Unusual Interests

Do they have hobbies or engage in activities that appear extreme or unusual, or express interests that are distasteful to the rest of the workforce?

Extended Working Hours

Do they seem to be working long hours and reluctant to accept help from their co-workers, are they becoming secretive about their particular tasks, do they appear reluctant to take holidays or other breaks?

Attitude To Security

Have they changed their procedures or processes without any obvious reason for doing so, has their level of friendliness to security staff changed, do they avoid getting to know other members of staff?

Colleague Relationships

Have there been noticeable changes in social habits, have they begun to withdraw from any particular individuals or groups of people?

It is important for all organisations to be aware of the dangers from outsiders, but the real damage is so often caused by the people who are actually working within them. Your company may have excellent physical security and ultra modern access control systems, however professional criminals and extremists wishing to infiltrate and harm your business (known as ‘insider threats’) are utilising methods to circumvent existing security procedures including;

Recruiting and implanting a ‘sleeper’ into your organisation, and then activating them only when a specific task is required.

Targeting an existing member of staff, particularly if they spot any vulnerability or weakness, by offering cash for sensitive information, or by threats of physical violence if they don’t comply.

Gangs have often compromised company employees through drugs, sexual favours and other unsavoury inducements. It is only through consistent and organised vigilance that these threats can be countered by company security officers, and only if they are kept up to date with actions and reactions of company employees.