Conducting a background check on current and potential employees may help save your business from theft. Click here to learn more.
A recent study by American DataBank found that as many as 95 percent of all United States businesses suffer from some form of business theft. Lately, that number, and the potential risk, is growing because of the lagging economy. According to an article by BloggingStocks, employees engaging in such things as theft can result in dire consequences for the entire company.
“Actually, I’ve known some examples where a company had to shut down because of the shenanigans of an employee (keep in mind that the most serious examples of business theft are often from employees),” the article notes. “But there are some precautions you can take.”
Before hiring any employee, it’s a good idea to complete a background check. This will help verify the candidate’s resume and criminal checks, as well as tell you if the applicant has filed suits against prior employers. It’s advisable to use a third-party investigation service to avoid any complications, and there also are some good online background check companies.
It’s important to make sure your company’s data is secure in order to avoid having customer records breached or corporate bank accounts drained. While this move can be expensive and require extra software and consulting, it’s extremely helpful.
If your company has an office or retail front, some level of physical security should be implemented, such as security cameras. While online technology continues to grow, video surveillance and alarm systems are more affordable and should be available to even smaller companies.
As an extra precaution, a company also can purchase theft insurance, which provides more coverage than normal insurance policies.