News & Resources

Protect your retirement home with scrupulous background checks

Dec 05, 2011 Matt Roesly

Administering a basic guideline suggested by Retirement Planning may help an employer make certain their new hire is reliable and has a clean history. Running background screenings on employees working in a retirement home is vital to an organization's reputability and the protection of its residents. In a worst case scenario, if an employee is involved in questionable activity on the job and it turns out they are also employed under falsified documents, the company that hired them may be liable for both their actions and their lack of a thorough background check. It may be difficult to spot a criminal through resumes and applications because applicants may prefer to answer "no" when asked if they've been involved in a felony in the past, even if they have been. An applicant doesn't want to reveal any details that may encourage the employer not to hire them. Employers should hire a background screening agency that is reputable and understands how to handle applications within the healthcare industry, the news source explains. Certain agencies may be more adept at screening for one industry than others. Prices may vary from agency to agency, but regardless of the cost, ultimately what matters most is the quality of service. A few extra dollars spent on a background screening may mean the difference between a great hire and a criminal one that results in a major lawsuit. For background checks and resume analysis, focus on what matters most for each particular position. For instance, if an employer is hiring a van driver for a retirement home, their job may be to drive elders from location to location - therefore, investigating the applicant's driver history, criminal background and experience with caring for elders may be the forefront of the screening. If an applicant says on their application they've had prior experience in a similar industry, the employer should investigate this. Some applicants may claim to have worked in a field primarily to gain the lead in the application process. If an employer finds the applicant has lied or misled the company on the application, the organization may want to seek another employee. Using caution and treating every application with the same, detailed background screening process will make for a safer and reliable workforce.