Background Check Company-3 WC Blog 349
Pre-employment screening-3
Stressful Workplaces Can Be Improved When Employee Background Checks Are Used Part 2
Job stress will always exist be it through deadlines, the type of work that has to be complete, the random day when Murphy’s Law seems to take over and everything goes wrong and so on. In part 1 of this series I discussed job stresses that are related to bad employees. Most of us have had to work with them before. These are the people that always seem to argue over everything. You come in to work and say a cheerful good morning and Mr. Grumpy Pants wants to know what’s so good about it? You bring in the box of donuts to share with the office and this is the person who gripes because you didn’t include chocolate glazed. I mentioned how some of these people can be avoided simply by conducting pre-employment screenings and finding out they have a checkered work history. You can identify patterns and possible lies in the application process that give you reason to question if this is the person you want to include on your team. However managers share some responsibility too. How many managers out there don’t want to address performance issues? I see it a lot. There are some managers who don’t have the skills or the nerve to confront poor performers. They excuse bad behavior or poor performance, sometimes hiding behind the excuse that the store is short staffed and can’t afford to lose the employee right now. Are you KIDDING ME?! Think about it folks, if the person is a poor performer, they are either making everyone else on the team work harder OR the team sees that nothing happens to the employee, they get disgruntled and slow down. I’ve seen it happen far too often. I hold the managers responsible who are unwilling to sit down with the employee when poor performance is first identified. Yes, a background check company can help weed the bad apples out, but there still has to be accountability and that starts at the top.
Just to be clear, a background check company can be hired to look into all sorts of information that can be important in your hiring decisions for new staff. Maybe you want to make sure the people you are hiring are legally allowed to work in the U.S. A pre-employment screening can be used to verify social security information. Perhaps you want to look out for the safety of your employees so a sex offender registry and criminal history check is completed. Employment history can also be verified, has the applicant worked where and when they said they worked at other locations? There is a wealth of information a background check company can provide that is just not possible for most businesses to obtain on their own.
The information provided can help in making hiring decisions but from time to time a poor employee can slip through the cracks and you have to have managers that are equipped to manage performance or manage someone out the door if behavior doesn’t change. As a Loss Prevention Manager I recall at least two different employees on two different occasions who worked in other departments that I brought on my L.P. team. In both instances the supervisors regularly complained about the performance of these employees but they never seemed to take steps to fix the problem and it was impacting their team’s performance. I took both employees onto my team and let them know that I expected improved performance and attendance or they would be let go. One did really well and eventually took an L.P. job with another company. The second employee continued with his poor attendance and I let him go. I followed our policy on corrective actions and addressed the issue. There was never a surprise when someone’s job was terminated we had already had performance discussions. It wasn’t personal but there was a business to run.
Managers need to understand that corrective action should not be a personal conflict it is a matter of enforcing policies in a fair and equitable manner. Employees know who is and who is not performing or is regularly calling out and they get angry when they feel they have to pick up the slack. It is the manager’s job to manage team performance even when it is uncomfortable.
Use pre-employment screening to make the best possible hiring decisions. For those employees who slip through the process make sure performance issues are addressed in a timely manner. When managers do that, they keep the rest of the team happy and productive.
Pre-employment screening is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Job stress will always exist be it through deadlines, the type of work that has to be complete, the random day when Murphy’s Law seems to take over and everything goes wrong and so on. In part 1 of this series I discussed job stresses that are related to bad employees. Most of us have had to work with them before. These are the people that always seem to argue over everything. You come in to work and say a cheerful good morning and Mr. Grumpy Pants wants to know what’s so good about it? You bring in the box of donuts to share with the office and this is the person who gripes because you didn’t include chocolate glazed. I mentioned how some of these people can be avoided simply by conducting pre-employment screenings and finding out they have a checkered work history. You can identify patterns and possible lies in the application process that give you reason to question if this is the person you want to include on your team. However managers share some responsibility too. How many managers out there don’t want to address performance issues? I see it a lot. There are some managers who don’t have the skills or the nerve to confront poor performers. They excuse bad behavior or poor performance, sometimes hiding behind the excuse that the store is short staffed and can’t afford to lose the employee right now. Are you KIDDING ME?! Think about it folks, if the person is a poor performer, they are either making everyone else on the team work harder OR the team sees that nothing happens to the employee, they get disgruntled and slow down. I’ve seen it happen far too often. I hold the managers responsible who are unwilling to sit down with the employee when poor performance is first identified. Yes, a background check company can help weed the bad apples out, but there still has to be accountability and that starts at the top.
Just to be clear, a background check company can be hired to look into all sorts of information that can be important in your hiring decisions for new staff. Maybe you want to make sure the people you are hiring are legally allowed to work in the U.S. A pre-employment screening can be used to verify social security information. Perhaps you want to look out for the safety of your employees so a sex offender registry and criminal history check is completed. Employment history can also be verified, has the applicant worked where and when they said they worked at other locations? There is a wealth of information a background check company can provide that is just not possible for most businesses to obtain on their own.
The information provided can help in making hiring decisions but from time to time a poor employee can slip through the cracks and you have to have managers that are equipped to manage performance or manage someone out the door if behavior doesn’t change. As a Loss Prevention Manager I recall at least two different employees on two different occasions who worked in other departments that I brought on my L.P. team. In both instances the supervisors regularly complained about the performance of these employees but they never seemed to take steps to fix the problem and it was impacting their team’s performance. I took both employees onto my team and let them know that I expected improved performance and attendance or they would be let go. One did really well and eventually took an L.P. job with another company. The second employee continued with his poor attendance and I let him go. I followed our policy on corrective actions and addressed the issue. There was never a surprise when someone’s job was terminated we had already had performance discussions. It wasn’t personal but there was a business to run.
Managers need to understand that corrective action should not be a personal conflict it is a matter of enforcing policies in a fair and equitable manner. Employees know who is and who is not performing or is regularly calling out and they get angry when they feel they have to pick up the slack. It is the manager’s job to manage team performance even when it is uncomfortable.
Use pre-employment screening to make the best possible hiring decisions. For those employees who slip through the process make sure performance issues are addressed in a timely manner. When managers do that, they keep the rest of the team happy and productive.
Pre-employment screening is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Electronic Article Surveillance – 4 WC Blog 371
Checkpoint Security Tags – 3
Stop shoplifting-3
Following An Opening And Closing Checklist Can Keep Personnel Safe And Help To Stop Shoplifting
Store opening and closing procedures should never be taken for granted. A lot of things can happen during these times and particular care should be taken in everything you do. My 27 plus years in retail Loss Prevention and retail have given me a unique perspective on what should be done during an opening and closing process. From clearing registers to checking on electronic article surveillance systems, a specific task list should be in place and followed. The first reason to put the procedures in place is safety. The second reason is that set procedures help managers ensure systems are functioning properly which can impact store security.
One of the systems that must be included in opening procedures is the store’s electronic article surveillance systems. This is the one system in a store that can stop shoplifting and that actually affects profit AND safety. The two components of this system that must be checked are the deactivation pads and the towers. The deactivation pads located at the checkout lanes de-tune the soft variety of Checkpoint security tags. The Towers are usually located at front entrances or exits and are used to detect if a tagged piece of merchandise is being carried close to the doors. The presence of towers can stop shoplifting and improve profits since generally speaking, thieves don’t like to take the chance that they will be caught due to an alarm activation. From a safety standpoint, thieves who steal from a store often times will steal from customers as well. If you have an electronic article surveillance system in place the criminals are likely going to other stores which means less crime in your building and even in your parking lot. Testing and verification devices are easy to use and ensure your EAS system functions as it should.
In addition to your Checkpoint security system, an opening routine should include the following:
• The opening manager should drive around the building before entering. Look for signed of forced entry into back doors or ladders against the building. If anything suspicious is noted, call for police assistance before entering the building.
• Two or more people should be entering the store together. The best method to do this is to have one employee sit in the car and watch the key holder enter the building, re-lock the door and turn off the alarm. They then come to the door and let the second employee enter.
• However the store does their cash office, the manager and the cash counter should enter the cash office together and the manager then opens the safe and the register till(s) are prepared.
• Store computers should be checked to ensure they are logging in properly and the internet is working.
• A test of the electronic article surveillance towers and de-activation pads. As mentioned you want to be sure you stop shoplifting but you don’t want Checkpoint Security tags to fail to de-tune and cause customer distractions.
• If applicable, verify closed circuit television and cameras are all functioning properly. Turn on any public view monitors at this time.
• Do a quick walk through the store to ensure all lights are on and no facility emergencies have taken place overnight such as burst pipes, overflowing commodes, etc.
Closing routines should include:
• Make closing announcements around 15 minutes prior to closing. This let’s customer’s finish shopping and your managers can see who appears to be lingering behind.
• Lock all doors as the last customer exits.
• If you drop register tills before closing, have two people do it together, one person is vulnerable to a grab and run.
• Have employees check specific areas of the store for customers who may be hiding, including restrooms and fitting rooms.
• Close out registers and secure funds in the safe in the cash office. For checks and balances have two people do this together.
• Turn off all public view monitors to extend the life of the monitors.
• As the employees are ready to leave, one person should go to their car and move it to a place where they can watch the front doors. Then the key holder should set the building alarm, everyone should exit, the key holder locks the doors as the group of employees waits and they all go to their vehicles.
• The key holder should do a final drive around the building to ensure no one is hanging around back doors or windows waiting for an opportunity to break-in.
Create an opening and closing checklist using these tips to make your store safer for employees and customers. Remember, a store that uses Checkpoint Security tags and systems and focuses on creating a safe environment is a profitable store.
Electronic Article Surveillance is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Store opening and closing procedures should never be taken for granted. A lot of things can happen during these times and particular care should be taken in everything you do. My 27 plus years in retail Loss Prevention and retail have given me a unique perspective on what should be done during an opening and closing process. From clearing registers to checking on electronic article surveillance systems, a specific task list should be in place and followed. The first reason to put the procedures in place is safety. The second reason is that set procedures help managers ensure systems are functioning properly which can impact store security.
One of the systems that must be included in opening procedures is the store’s electronic article surveillance systems. This is the one system in a store that can stop shoplifting and that actually affects profit AND safety. The two components of this system that must be checked are the deactivation pads and the towers. The deactivation pads located at the checkout lanes de-tune the soft variety of Checkpoint security tags. The Towers are usually located at front entrances or exits and are used to detect if a tagged piece of merchandise is being carried close to the doors. The presence of towers can stop shoplifting and improve profits since generally speaking, thieves don’t like to take the chance that they will be caught due to an alarm activation. From a safety standpoint, thieves who steal from a store often times will steal from customers as well. If you have an electronic article surveillance system in place the criminals are likely going to other stores which means less crime in your building and even in your parking lot. Testing and verification devices are easy to use and ensure your EAS system functions as it should.
In addition to your Checkpoint security system, an opening routine should include the following:
• The opening manager should drive around the building before entering. Look for signed of forced entry into back doors or ladders against the building. If anything suspicious is noted, call for police assistance before entering the building.
• Two or more people should be entering the store together. The best method to do this is to have one employee sit in the car and watch the key holder enter the building, re-lock the door and turn off the alarm. They then come to the door and let the second employee enter.
• However the store does their cash office, the manager and the cash counter should enter the cash office together and the manager then opens the safe and the register till(s) are prepared.
• Store computers should be checked to ensure they are logging in properly and the internet is working.
• A test of the electronic article surveillance towers and de-activation pads. As mentioned you want to be sure you stop shoplifting but you don’t want Checkpoint Security tags to fail to de-tune and cause customer distractions.
• If applicable, verify closed circuit television and cameras are all functioning properly. Turn on any public view monitors at this time.
• Do a quick walk through the store to ensure all lights are on and no facility emergencies have taken place overnight such as burst pipes, overflowing commodes, etc.
Closing routines should include:
• Make closing announcements around 15 minutes prior to closing. This let’s customer’s finish shopping and your managers can see who appears to be lingering behind.
• Lock all doors as the last customer exits.
• If you drop register tills before closing, have two people do it together, one person is vulnerable to a grab and run.
• Have employees check specific areas of the store for customers who may be hiding, including restrooms and fitting rooms.
• Close out registers and secure funds in the safe in the cash office. For checks and balances have two people do this together.
• Turn off all public view monitors to extend the life of the monitors.
• As the employees are ready to leave, one person should go to their car and move it to a place where they can watch the front doors. Then the key holder should set the building alarm, everyone should exit, the key holder locks the doors as the group of employees waits and they all go to their vehicles.
• The key holder should do a final drive around the building to ensure no one is hanging around back doors or windows waiting for an opportunity to break-in.
Create an opening and closing checklist using these tips to make your store safer for employees and customers. Remember, a store that uses Checkpoint Security tags and systems and focuses on creating a safe environment is a profitable store.
Electronic Article Surveillance is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Alpha Bug Tag-3 WC Blog 350
i-Pad theft-3
Don’t Have A Heart Attack Over The Use Of Alpha Bug Tags To Protect Mobile Medical Devices From Theft, EAS Won’t Interfere With Pacemakers
When I worked as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager our store was located in a place where retirees would often move to for the winter in order to escape the cold. One of the questions I was asked on a fairly regular basis was if our electronic article surveillance (EAS) system would interfere with pacemakers. Customers were concerned about the tags we used but they were really fearful of the EAS pedestals since they were located right at the doors to the building. I would try to reassure them that there was no health concerns associated with the system and after a few minutes that was usually enough to allay any trepidations the customers might have had. There were some though that no matter how much time I spent trying to reassure them they could not get over that hurdle. That is why the question was posed to me more often than it may have been to a peer somewhere else. Studies have been done that show there is minimal chance EAS could interfere with pacemakers and similar medical devices. Stores aren’t the only place the technology is used. It is important for healthcare providers to understand this as they consider the need to protect mobile medical devices from tablet theft of i-Pad theft.
Many medical offices from general practitioners to dentists are realizing the advantages of using mobile technology to improve patient care, share information with patients and protect records. Loose papers and stray clipboards are slowly being replaced with an i-Pad or a tablet. Patients are now using these devices to register new accounts including all of their personal information but now it is quickly accessed at the touch of a button. The down side is that if one of these mobile devices is stolen there is a chance client information can be accessed by criminals. Many offices that have made the switch to technology over paper have taken steps to protect the mobile units with an Alpha Bug Tag attached to a device and set up EAS towers at the doors. When protected devices are carried into the detection field of the towers, alarms alert employees and who then prevent an i-Pad theft from taking place. The tags are also tamper proof which prevents a thief from being able to remove an anti-theft device and steal a tablet. Attempts to pry a tag off of a device sets off an alarm built into the Alpha Bug Tag again foiling efforts of someone trying to steal protected information.
The safety of electronic article surveillance on pacemakers has been documented many times. For instance the American Heart Association on their website www.heart.org states, “Interactions with EAS systems are unlikely to cause clinically significant symptoms in most patients.” On the other hand, with regard to MP3 players the website says, “Most contain a magnetic substance and research has documented that placing the headphones too close to the pacemaker caused interference.” Another concern is raised with power- generating equipment, arc welding equipment and powerful magnets. The site continues, “Such as found in some medical devices, heavy equipment or motors can inhibit pulse generators.” On their website, hopkinsmedicine.org, Johns Hopkins Hospital article for potential patients, “Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertion” provides the caution, “Anti-Theft systems or electronic article surveillance (EAS) used in department stores may interact with an ICD. The American Heart Association recommends you should not lean on or stand in this equipment but should pass quickly through the detection system.”
There is potentially more risk involved in a visit to a doctor’s office or hospital from the medical equipment in those facilities than that associated with EAS. The American Heart Association warns of interference from MRI’s, Radio Frequency Ablation (a medical procedure that uses radio waves to manage a variety of arrhythmias) and Short-wave or microwave diathermy (a medical procedure that uses high-frequency, high-intensity signals for physical therapy). Each of these can disrupt or damage the pacemaker a patient is carrying.
The point I am making is that medical providers should adapt mobile devices in the practice to improve service and save time. Any concern over i-Pad theft or tablet theft and the compromise of protected patient information can be laid to rest with the use of Alpha Bug Tags and EAS technology. Patients who may have pacemakers need not worry about interference with their devices.
Need information on Alpha Bug Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
When I worked as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager our store was located in a place where retirees would often move to for the winter in order to escape the cold. One of the questions I was asked on a fairly regular basis was if our electronic article surveillance (EAS) system would interfere with pacemakers. Customers were concerned about the tags we used but they were really fearful of the EAS pedestals since they were located right at the doors to the building. I would try to reassure them that there was no health concerns associated with the system and after a few minutes that was usually enough to allay any trepidations the customers might have had. There were some though that no matter how much time I spent trying to reassure them they could not get over that hurdle. That is why the question was posed to me more often than it may have been to a peer somewhere else. Studies have been done that show there is minimal chance EAS could interfere with pacemakers and similar medical devices. Stores aren’t the only place the technology is used. It is important for healthcare providers to understand this as they consider the need to protect mobile medical devices from tablet theft of i-Pad theft.
Many medical offices from general practitioners to dentists are realizing the advantages of using mobile technology to improve patient care, share information with patients and protect records. Loose papers and stray clipboards are slowly being replaced with an i-Pad or a tablet. Patients are now using these devices to register new accounts including all of their personal information but now it is quickly accessed at the touch of a button. The down side is that if one of these mobile devices is stolen there is a chance client information can be accessed by criminals. Many offices that have made the switch to technology over paper have taken steps to protect the mobile units with an Alpha Bug Tag attached to a device and set up EAS towers at the doors. When protected devices are carried into the detection field of the towers, alarms alert employees and who then prevent an i-Pad theft from taking place. The tags are also tamper proof which prevents a thief from being able to remove an anti-theft device and steal a tablet. Attempts to pry a tag off of a device sets off an alarm built into the Alpha Bug Tag again foiling efforts of someone trying to steal protected information.
The safety of electronic article surveillance on pacemakers has been documented many times. For instance the American Heart Association on their website www.heart.org states, “Interactions with EAS systems are unlikely to cause clinically significant symptoms in most patients.” On the other hand, with regard to MP3 players the website says, “Most contain a magnetic substance and research has documented that placing the headphones too close to the pacemaker caused interference.” Another concern is raised with power- generating equipment, arc welding equipment and powerful magnets. The site continues, “Such as found in some medical devices, heavy equipment or motors can inhibit pulse generators.” On their website, hopkinsmedicine.org, Johns Hopkins Hospital article for potential patients, “Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertion” provides the caution, “Anti-Theft systems or electronic article surveillance (EAS) used in department stores may interact with an ICD. The American Heart Association recommends you should not lean on or stand in this equipment but should pass quickly through the detection system.”
There is potentially more risk involved in a visit to a doctor’s office or hospital from the medical equipment in those facilities than that associated with EAS. The American Heart Association warns of interference from MRI’s, Radio Frequency Ablation (a medical procedure that uses radio waves to manage a variety of arrhythmias) and Short-wave or microwave diathermy (a medical procedure that uses high-frequency, high-intensity signals for physical therapy). Each of these can disrupt or damage the pacemaker a patient is carrying.
The point I am making is that medical providers should adapt mobile devices in the practice to improve service and save time. Any concern over i-Pad theft or tablet theft and the compromise of protected patient information can be laid to rest with the use of Alpha Bug Tags and EAS technology. Patients who may have pacemakers need not worry about interference with their devices.
Need information on Alpha Bug Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
