Background Checks: Is Stan from Accounting Who He Says He Is?

If you lock the doors of your building, it stands to reason that you’ll keep the bad guys out. But what if the bad guys are already inside? Background checks for new employees are becoming standard, but what about the backgrounds of current employees?

William Besse, director of corporate security for media company Belo, says background checks, regardless of industry, are one of the most effective ways to improve security. Not only should companies check new hires but also current employees and contractors.

He also urges rechecking the backgrounds of employees who move to a higher-level position. “If your company assets are information-based, you should consider spending more time ensuring that people with access to information are who they say they are,” Besse says, adding that consultants and vendors are often hired on the recommendations of friends, and background checks are forgotten.

Kroll reports an increase of between 5 percent and 10 percent in the number of companies that conduct checks on employees, says Bob Schlossnagle, president of Kroll Background America. But having their lives investigated can be unsettling for loyal workers. So it’s crucial to develop a well-written plan about your background-check policy for current employees. “You need to explain why this is important,” Schlossnagle says.