Anymore, when you read the business section of your local newspaper it looks more like the true crime section rather than mere financial news. The financial news is bad enough, but then you have to bear witness to all the scam artists and outright thieves in white collars who have been indicted for one malfeasance or another.
In fact, when one considers the consequences of terrorism to our lives and to our national economy, it would seem prudent to view these criminal actions by failing corporations, where they robbed money from diligent citizens should also be regarded severely. Obviously, most of the public agrees with that sentiment.
The Los Angeles Times recently published an article about how the Services Employees International Union funneled millions of dollars to consulting firms, political non-profit organizations and individuals with family ties or with connections to the heads of the Union. Old fashioned business at a brand new stand. Maybe not that old fashioned, at that. Perhaps even the family cat got a few bucks for catnip, by virtue of being a family member.
Cronyism is but one way your business can face serious losses if not catastrophe. While we all love our friends and families, well maybe not all our friends and families, there are employment candidates, consulting firms and suppliers that are often a lot more qualified than cronies.
But this is only one way a company can lose traction, lose business and turn upside down. Cronyism is but one aspect of a large picture. There are kickbacks and theft issues. As a background checking and corporate research service we hear all the time about employees taking kickbacks from suppliers who curry favor in order to obtain the account. Employees stealing merchandise is commonplace. This is a real morale killer, as the honest workers resent the fact that the thieves often go unpunished.
Then there are the outright thieves who steal your sensitive data and proprietary information. They either do it for spite, many cases of that, or sell it to competitors. Many cases of that as well.
None of this is any joke. You can lose your business because one employee is selfish and seeking his own profit. So check your employees out carefully. Have in your application notice that you will not only be running preemployment screening searches when they apply for the job but that you will be conducting background checks through their tenure with your company.
Check them out before you hire. And after.
