The recent large-scale employee verification measures initiated by the Indian companies signify a heightened security consciousness in the wake of increasing crime rate.
A recent survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) reported that about 52 percent of the human resource officials of various companies are now cross-checking background details of job applicants prior to hiring them.
The findings of ASSOCHAM survey revealed that a large number of corporates, representing more than 1,500 businesses in and around Delhi region, are verifying their existing and prospective employees at all levels.
The survey also noted that many companies haven’t done any form of background check before hiring an employee mainly at junior levels.
The horrendous rape case in Delhi certainly led to the need for carrying out a comprehensive scrutiny of employees.
“Background screening conducted by specialists adds a big ‘preventive’ dimension which could significantly minimize the risk of engaging with the ‘wrong’ people, whether at the work place or outside,” D. S. Rawat, the secretary general of ASSOCHAM, said in a press release.
Nearly 25 percent of the companies that are unable to carry out the verification procedures are now outsourcing the process to specialized third party agencies to cross-check detail of the job applicant, including any criminal record.
Rawat said for certain jobs like working with children or in healthcare, employers need to carry out a mandatory criminal record check on new employees before they can start and also suggested an appropriate legislation for the entire country.
The survey highlights that a collective sense of responsibility and security consciousness is needed to filter out individuals with unclean credentials or dishonorable intentions, and demonstrate that crime does not pay.
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