Background Check Company-3 WC Blog 330
Pre-Employment Screening-3
If Your Employees Get Into Fights You Could Be Responsible Under Negligent Hiring Laws; A Background Check Company Can Protect You In Your Hiring Decisions
Did you know that as an employer you could potentially be held liable if someone you hire injures a customer or another employer? The internet is filled with videos of employee – customer altercations, some initiated by the customer and some by the employee but in all the situations the images are disturbing. I happened to see one video of a well-known fast food chain employee beating up a woman in front of the woman’s two-year old son. In this case the assault took place outside of the restaurant but the uniform was a dead giveaway and the NBC news affiliate website reported where the employee worked. In another video several employees from another fast food chain got into a fight with a patron. In the NBC6.com story it was reported that the customer was intoxicated but the employees began the physical altercation by throwing cups at the customer then came from behind the counter and started fighting. Videos also abound of employees fighting each other in retail stores, fast food restaurants and other locations. While one must be careful not to conclude that these videos are representative of the majority of American workers, it would be unwise to dismiss the possibility that this could happen in your business. There is also a possibility that if a fight takes place in your business and it involves one or more of your employees, you could be held responsible for injuries under “Negligent Hiring” and/or “Negligent Retention” Laws. To protect your business, employees and customers, it is wise to hire a background check company to conduct pre-employment screenings of applicants.
A background check company can dig into the personal history of someone you may be considering bringing onto your team. While your job application may ask if someone has been convicted of a felony, what resources do you have at your disposal to verify if the applicant lies and does not disclose a criminal past? In addition to conducting criminal background checks, a pre-employment screening can determine if the person has worked where they said they worked on their application. It may be that the person you are considering hiring has indicated they have received a degree from a college or university, without checking on it do you know if they are telling you the truth? Background check companies can do the legwork so that you can feel confident in the person you are considering working in your building.
The importance of making sure you are hiring the right person for a position is revealed when we consider what exactly is meant by “Negligent Hiring” or “Negligent Retention”. According to the website smallbusiness.findlaw.com, referring to negligent hiring or negligent retention, “The most common example of this is to hold the employer liable for the criminal conduct of an employee which is obviously outside the scope of employment. The basis for liability is that the employer acted carelessly in hiring a criminal for a job that the employer should have expected would expose others to harm.” In other words, if you don’t take precautions in your hiring practices and you hire a person with a criminal history and at some point an altercation or assault takes place, you may be held responsible. The website goes on to say, “… to avoid liability for negligent hiring, an employer should always run a background check on an employee…” http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/liability-and-insurance/an-employer-s-liability-for-employee-s-acts.html It appears the only conclusion that can be made from this is that a pre-employment screening is the best way to keep from becoming liable in a lawsuit should one of your employees become involved in a fight, especially if injuries are sustained by the victim.
A background check company can be invaluable in your efforts to hire the best applicants and keep your business a safe place for customers and employees alike. Lawsuits are expensive and can drain your bank accounts, let professional investigators keep your company profitable.
Need information on a background check company? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Did you know that as an employer you could potentially be held liable if someone you hire injures a customer or another employer? The internet is filled with videos of employee – customer altercations, some initiated by the customer and some by the employee but in all the situations the images are disturbing. I happened to see one video of a well-known fast food chain employee beating up a woman in front of the woman’s two-year old son. In this case the assault took place outside of the restaurant but the uniform was a dead giveaway and the NBC news affiliate website reported where the employee worked. In another video several employees from another fast food chain got into a fight with a patron. In the NBC6.com story it was reported that the customer was intoxicated but the employees began the physical altercation by throwing cups at the customer then came from behind the counter and started fighting. Videos also abound of employees fighting each other in retail stores, fast food restaurants and other locations. While one must be careful not to conclude that these videos are representative of the majority of American workers, it would be unwise to dismiss the possibility that this could happen in your business. There is also a possibility that if a fight takes place in your business and it involves one or more of your employees, you could be held responsible for injuries under “Negligent Hiring” and/or “Negligent Retention” Laws. To protect your business, employees and customers, it is wise to hire a background check company to conduct pre-employment screenings of applicants.
A background check company can dig into the personal history of someone you may be considering bringing onto your team. While your job application may ask if someone has been convicted of a felony, what resources do you have at your disposal to verify if the applicant lies and does not disclose a criminal past? In addition to conducting criminal background checks, a pre-employment screening can determine if the person has worked where they said they worked on their application. It may be that the person you are considering hiring has indicated they have received a degree from a college or university, without checking on it do you know if they are telling you the truth? Background check companies can do the legwork so that you can feel confident in the person you are considering working in your building.
The importance of making sure you are hiring the right person for a position is revealed when we consider what exactly is meant by “Negligent Hiring” or “Negligent Retention”. According to the website smallbusiness.findlaw.com, referring to negligent hiring or negligent retention, “The most common example of this is to hold the employer liable for the criminal conduct of an employee which is obviously outside the scope of employment. The basis for liability is that the employer acted carelessly in hiring a criminal for a job that the employer should have expected would expose others to harm.” In other words, if you don’t take precautions in your hiring practices and you hire a person with a criminal history and at some point an altercation or assault takes place, you may be held responsible. The website goes on to say, “… to avoid liability for negligent hiring, an employer should always run a background check on an employee…” http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/liability-and-insurance/an-employer-s-liability-for-employee-s-acts.html It appears the only conclusion that can be made from this is that a pre-employment screening is the best way to keep from becoming liable in a lawsuit should one of your employees become involved in a fight, especially if injuries are sustained by the victim.
A background check company can be invaluable in your efforts to hire the best applicants and keep your business a safe place for customers and employees alike. Lawsuits are expensive and can drain your bank accounts, let professional investigators keep your company profitable.
Need information on a background check company? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
ALPHA SHARK TAGS ARE THE NEWEST, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO STOP THE BILLIONS LOST IN RETURN FRAUD!
ML Blog 06
Return Fraud-5
Alpha Shark Tags- 3
Retailers lose billions each year to fraudulent refunds. Stores keep their return policies flexible in order to be customer-friendly. This opens the door to return fraud, which drains profits right at the point of sale. Return fraud is far more common than most retailers initially think. It’s a double-edged sword for retailers. We broaden return policies to take care of customers while at the same time inadvertently inviting fraudulent refunders to cause high dollar shrink.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I’ve seen several stores suffer return shrink. I once worked in a large store that completed $480,000 in no receipt returns in only a 1 year period. Out of the $480,000, they lost close to $192,000 in one year due to fraudulent returns. The store team knew their return percent for no receipt refunds was high, but had no clue the problem was this widespread. In that location, I prosecuted multiple high dollar cases each week. The majority of them pertained to shoplifters stealing merchandise, then returning that item at a later time. The thief will then receive a gift card or cash for your merchandise they stole. Another popular method is merchandise fraudulently being swapped for used merchandise that did not belong to the store. Subjects do this so they get a store refund, but also keep the actual item that they purchased. They will return one of their own used products, with your price tag attached to it. That way the cashier will scan the tag, thinking the returned item is the one the individual purchased. Now you are stuck with merchandise that is not yours, and they again receive a gift card or cash for the return. It’s called double dipping, causing a loss each time it happens. Another type of return fraud consists of “wardrobing”. Subjects will come into your store and return items that are already worn by them. Once you notice the items are worn, the subjects have the cash and you have to mark out the item that you cannot resell. Another big loss for your store. The numbers of return fraud cases I’ve prosecuted is at least equal to if not greater than the number of traditional shoplifting cases. Luckily, there is something new that retailers can do about it. Alpha Shark tags can be placed on your merchandise in order to prevent this type of fraud. They work as a strong, visual deterrent. They are small, and fit easily on your products. The tag cannot be placed back on the product after a customer removes the tag, which puts a stop to all of the types of fraudulent refunds. The item cannot be returned unless the security tag is in place, proving that the item is indeed the same item and not used by the customer. It does not get better than this!
There are multiple types of return fraud, so as retailers we have to think smarter when it comes to this type of fraud. Alpha Shark Tags are the newest, advanced technology to stop the billions lost in refunds. A lot of retailers I’ve worked for at first didn’t know what they could do to stop this rising trend. The stores would just accept their return percent and tell their associates to “be on the lookout” for fraudulent refunds. But what are you really doing to put a stop to it? Thieves know the ins and out of the system, so simply being on the lookout is not enough in this day and age. Investing in Alpha Shark Tags are the easiest way to stop the frustration of losing money daily due to fraudulent refunds.
For more information about Return Fraud, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Retailers lose billions each year to fraudulent refunds. Stores keep their return policies flexible in order to be customer-friendly. This opens the door to return fraud, which drains profits right at the point of sale. Return fraud is far more common than most retailers initially think. It’s a double-edged sword for retailers. We broaden return policies to take care of customers while at the same time inadvertently inviting fraudulent refunders to cause high dollar shrink.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I’ve seen several stores suffer return shrink. I once worked in a large store that completed $480,000 in no receipt returns in only a 1 year period. Out of the $480,000, they lost close to $192,000 in one year due to fraudulent returns. The store team knew their return percent for no receipt refunds was high, but had no clue the problem was this widespread. In that location, I prosecuted multiple high dollar cases each week. The majority of them pertained to shoplifters stealing merchandise, then returning that item at a later time. The thief will then receive a gift card or cash for your merchandise they stole. Another popular method is merchandise fraudulently being swapped for used merchandise that did not belong to the store. Subjects do this so they get a store refund, but also keep the actual item that they purchased. They will return one of their own used products, with your price tag attached to it. That way the cashier will scan the tag, thinking the returned item is the one the individual purchased. Now you are stuck with merchandise that is not yours, and they again receive a gift card or cash for the return. It’s called double dipping, causing a loss each time it happens. Another type of return fraud consists of “wardrobing“. Subjects will come into your store and return items that are already worn by them. Once you notice the items are worn, the subjects have the cash and you have to mark out the item that you cannot resell. Another big loss for your store. The numbers of return fraud cases I’ve prosecuted is at least equal to if not greater than the number of traditional shoplifting cases. Luckily, there is something new that retailers can do about it. Alpha Shark tags can be placed on your merchandise in order to prevent this type of fraud. They work as a strong, visual deterrent. They are small, and fit easily on your products. The tag cannot be placed back on the product after a customer removes the tag, which puts a stop to all of the types of fraudulent refunds. The item cannot be returned unless the security tag is in place, proving that the item is indeed the same item and not used by the customer. It does not get better than this!
There are multiple types of return fraud, so as retailers we have to think smarter when it comes to this type of fraud. Alpha Shark Tags are the newest, advanced technology to stop the billions lost in refunds. A lot of retailers I’ve worked for at first didn’t know what they could do to stop this rising trend. The stores would just accept their return percent and tell their associates to “be on the lookout” for fraudulent refunds. But what are you really doing to put a stop to it? Thieves know the ins and out of the system, so simply being on the lookout is not enough in this day and age. Investing in Alpha Shark Tags are the easiest way to stop the frustration of losing money daily due to fraudulent refunds.
For more information about Return Fraud, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Manger training to stop employee theft-3 WC Blog 327
Stop Shoplifting-5
Disgruntled Employees May Be Stealing And Disrupting Efforts To Stop Shoplifting; Manager Training To Stop Employee Theft Can Help You Prevent Both Problems
How happy are your employees? Sure they may seem like they are smiling when you are around but what about when you aren’t there. Are things as they seem? You may think this is an odd question for an article on theft prevention but there is more to this than you may realize. Employees who are not happy can grouse to other employees and even to customers but managers may not always be aware of it if they aren’t engaged with their staffs. Obviously this can lead to morale issues, but were you aware it could be something to look for as an indicator of employee theft? I also read an article recently that made me consider that if an employer is going to stop shoplifting they may want to focus on employee satisfaction. I’ll discuss this point a little later but the bigger picture here is that there may be activities in your store that could be indicators that theft could be or is occurring. Manager training to stop employee theft is available to store owners and leaders from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc.
By training your managers they can learn what behaviors employees may display that could tip them off that dishonest activity is taking place. You can also learn just how devastating theft can be on a business. Losses take place in the form of return fraud, credit fraud, passing, under ringing, gift card fraud, merchandise theft and of course there is shoplifting. Underestimate the impact of customer theft and you could be in for a nasty surprise when your next inventory results come in. Thieves learn where the easy targets are and when they find one they will exploit it so it is important to get the training that will teach managers how to stop shoplifting. You can also learn who the shoplifters are, how they are ripping your store off and how you should approach them. Manager training to stop employee theft and to stop shoplifting can pay off big dividends in the future.
I mentioned previously about the article I read and how it associated shoplifters with unhappy employees. In UFNews, a University of Florida web page, in an article titled, “The science of stealing”, by Allison Clark, February 16, 2016, the author has interviewed Read Hayes, co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team at the University of Florida. Their department hosted a conference during which former shoplifters told the Loss Prevention officials in the audience their stories. One of the points made by the speakers according to the article was, “They also avoid stealing from stores where employees seem happy. Disgruntled or disengaged employees are less likely to notice theft – and more likely to look the other way if they do, they said.” (Emphasis mine). http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/02/the-science-of-stealing.php . Admittedly I was taken aback by this. While I always thought of happy employees being more service oriented and more likely to be productive, I had not thought that it could hinder a management team’s efforts to stop shoplifting.
One final word from the article and this did confirm what many of us in Loss Prevention already believed, but not necessarily for the reasons we thought. Customer service is a strong deterrent to stop shoplifting. I would say most of us would have pointed out that customer service removes the opportunity for the thief to get away with their crime. However, according to the article, “…when an employee looks you in the eye and starts a conversation, it’s often game over for thieves said the sole female shoplifter on the stage. “Partly it’s the customer service. It’s also that if someone has looked at me and talked to me, they can pick me out of a lineup.””. Think about that, engaging customers in conversation, saying hello, offering assistance and making eye contact can discourage criminals who understand the potential consequences if they are caught stealing!
Manager training to stop employee theft and prevent shoplifting are important tools to help you improve your stock shortage results and thereby improve profitability. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can teach you and your staff the signals that you may have disgruntled employees and how to prevent it. They can also teach you how to approach shoplifters so they leave your store alone. Customer service drives sales but, as the woman in the article said it also prevented her from shoplifting. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. professional staff help educate your team.
Get more information on manager training to stop employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
How happy are your employees? Sure they may seem like they are smiling when you are around but what about when you aren’t there. Are things as they seem? You may think this is an odd question for an article on theft prevention but there is more to this than you may realize. Employees who are not happy can grouse to other employees and even to customers but managers may not always be aware of it if they aren’t engaged with their staffs. Obviously this can lead to morale issues, but were you aware it could be something to look for as an indicator of employee theft? I also read an article recently that made me consider that if an employer is going to stop shoplifting they may want to focus on employee satisfaction. I’ll discuss this point a little later but the bigger picture here is that there may be activities in your store that could be indicators that theft could be or is occurring. Manager training to stop employee theft is available to store owners and leaders from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc.
By training your managers they can learn what behaviors employees may display that could tip them off that dishonest activity is taking place. You can also learn just how devastating theft can be on a business. Losses take place in the form of return fraud, credit fraud, passing, under ringing, gift card fraud, merchandise theft and of course there is shoplifting. Underestimate the impact of customer theft and you could be in for a nasty surprise when your next inventory results come in. Thieves learn where the easy targets are and when they find one they will exploit it so it is important to get the training that will teach managers how to stop shoplifting. You can also learn who the shoplifters are, how they are ripping your store off and how you should approach them. Manager training to stop employee theft and to stop shoplifting can pay off big dividends in the future.
I mentioned previously about the article I read and how it associated shoplifters with unhappy employees. In UFNews, a University of Florida web page, in an article titled, “The science of stealing”, by Allison Clark, February 16, 2016, the author has interviewed Read Hayes, co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team at the University of Florida. Their department hosted a conference during which former shoplifters told the Loss Prevention officials in the audience their stories. One of the points made by the speakers according to the article was, “They also avoid stealing from stores where employees seem happy. Disgruntled or disengaged employees are less likely to notice theft – and more likely to look the other way if they do, they said.” (Emphasis mine). http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/02/the-science-of-stealing.php . Admittedly I was taken aback by this. While I always thought of happy employees being more service oriented and more likely to be productive, I had not thought that it could hinder a management team’s efforts to stop shoplifting.
One final word from the article and this did confirm what many of us in Loss Prevention already believed, but not necessarily for the reasons we thought. Customer service is a strong deterrent to stop shoplifting. I would say most of us would have pointed out that customer service removes the opportunity for the thief to get away with their crime. However, according to the article, “…when an employee looks you in the eye and starts a conversation, it’s often game over for thieves said the sole female shoplifter on the stage. “Partly it’s the customer service. It’s also that if someone has looked at me and talked to me, they can pick me out of a lineup.””. Think about that, engaging customers in conversation, saying hello, offering assistance and making eye contact can discourage criminals who understand the potential consequences if they are caught stealing!
Manager training to stop employee theft and prevent shoplifting are important tools to help you improve your stock shortage results and thereby improve profitability. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can teach you and your staff the signals that you may have disgruntled employees and how to prevent it. They can also teach you how to approach shoplifters so they leave your store alone. Customer service drives sales but, as the woman in the article said it also prevented her from shoplifting. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. professional staff help educate your team.
Get more information on manager training to stop employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
