Background Check Experts Advise – Check In-Home Service Workers

January 12, 2011 by

Background Check Experts Advise – Check In-Home Service Workers

Homeowners generally assume that anyone sent by a company into their home to do work might assume that the individual has been checked out thoroughly by the employer’s background check company .  But the fact is, the person actually sent out to do the work may actually not be an employee of the company hired by the homeowner, but a contract employee.

Many homeowners will ask the company if they have checked their employees.  Often the answer is that they are all “bonded and insured.”

Employees and contractors may be bonded and insured, but this means very little if an in-home worker damages a homeowner.  Background check experts will tell you that there is no better indicator of future behavior than the past.  The bond and insurance only tells the homeowner that he will receive damages only if theft or other harm can be proven in court.  Wouldn’t it be easier for all concerned to avoid all this if it was possible to do so?

There have been far too many instances when an in-home service worker such as an exterminator, duct cleaner, or delivery person has used his job as a means to identify a target who later becomes a victim of his actions.  These instances have included serious crimes such as burglary, rape, and murder.

Although the homeowner may trust the company she hires to do the work, can she be certain of the person actually performing the work?  The answer to this question is no, but the homeowner should insist that anyone sent to her home should be thoroughly checked by the company’s background check experts, to reduce the chances that something might happen.

Need help from background check experts in Atlanta, Georgia?  Call 770-426-0547 or click here.

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Employee Theft – What Is The Primary Cause? – Atlanta Georgia

January 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We know from long experience in the loss prevention field that there are many reasons that employees steal.  Greed, want, need are all reasons. We as employers can do little to effect the reasons except to do the best we can to screen out potential problems such as candidates with poor criminal histories; candidates that have a poor credit history who may be handling our money and drug abusers top the list

But what are the CAUSES of employee theft ? In the 2010 Global Fraud Study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners the leading primary internal control weakness is…”Lack of Internal Controls”. In organizations with less than 100 employees it amounts to 47% (over 100 employees equals 33.7%). There is not even a close second.

Keep in mind that the cause is something that we as business leaders have complete control over. Yet business appear to do little or clearly not enough to protect the fragile margins we have. I believe that there are two reasons for this.

Number one is that it seems in many cases there is a lack of strong leadership. The kind of leadership that people understand and respect. An understanding by employees at all levels that strong controls that the company has in place will not under any circumstances be violated and that such violation is not open to interpretation. The violation of these procedures will be met with strict and immediate punishment at all levels. This draws a line in the sand.

Number two is that even when that line in the sand is drawn we find it to hard or we are too busy to maintain it. Because of this that line in the sand is quickly washed away by the waves. We then find ourselves a year later scratching our heads trying to make sense of why another serious employee theft or series of employee theft incidents have occurred.

Want to bring employee theft under control once and for all? Make your line in the sand a granite wall with no compromise that the waves will not affect.

For more information about employee theft ,  employee theft investigation , internal theft or corporate fraud investigator contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Minimizing Internal Theft – Atlanta Georgia

January 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The sad truth is that internal theft accounts for two-thirds of theft businesses experience. It ranges from pilfering pens and pencils to grand larceny. Employees carry out theft in a number of different ways. Sometimes items are slipped into pockets, pocketbooks or briefcases with little or no forethought; and sometimes an individual might plan ahead, hide when the business closes, then carry out their crime in secret, without having to worry about being seen. Whatever the particular mode stealing is stealing and in order for you to run a profitable business you must minimize internal theft as much as possible.

The first step is to screen and select new employees carefully by using reference checks, credit checks, psychological tests and personal character examinations. Once you bring someone aboard watch them closely and check receipts daily. Believe it or not there are individuals out there who will take a position just for the opportunity to steal from that particular company. They usually don’t waste time getting down to business so you better not waste time catching them. Next, you should adopt a standard of excellence in conduct and performance. Encourage your employees to be the best and take pride in their jobs. People who feel pride in their work accept responsibility for their performance and are far less likely to jeopardize what status they’ve worked for.

Use key controls, time locks, changing locks, alarms and security guards to discourage dishonest employees. Nobody wants to be outted as a thief, use that fear against the would-be thieves. Supervise trash pickups, and occasionally check trash collection sites and trucks. Collusion between dishonest employees and trash men is not uncommon. In fact, one of the most common ways in which to steal something is to simply throw it away then come back after hours and fish it out of the garbage. Keep up on trends and stay alert to what’s going on in your organization and these tips will help you minimize internal theft .

For more information about employee theft , employee theft investigation  or corporate fraud investigation contact us at internal theft or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Where are the best places for Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint labels? – Anti Shoplifting

January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This is another question that we get asked frequently. Placement is very important not only for theft but you must consider merchandising your good customers. Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels are the best in the industry. If you are to get your investment out of your checkpoint systems then you have to pay close attention to placement.

Let’s talk about your good customers first! If you place checkpoint tags on clothing in such a way that the customer is not able to try them the merchandise on or if it interferes with the customers visual impression you may lose the sale. If you place Checkpoint labels on product packaging in such a way that you cover up instructions, warning labels, expiration dates… then that customer may pass your products by. The great news is that you don’t have to. Checkpoint systems tag and label offerings can cover any situation.

Checkpoint tags – consider placement on shirts on the rear of the shirt at the collar seam or on a seam on the side under the arm. Do the same with pants and skirts. Place the tag on the back at rear seam below the belt line or on a side leg seam at the knee. Do not put checkpoint tags on a belt loop. The shoplifter will break the belt loop and fix it later. In these locations the customer will not see the checkpoint tags or will be inclined to ignore them.

If you would like a free Checkpoint systems tag placement chart please contact us. This chart has many other items on it and could be posted in the back room of your store.

Checkpoint labels – Wow Checkpoint systems has so many types of labels available it is too much to put in this blog. So I will discuss only a couple. Covering up important information on packaging could lead a customer to not purchase or damage the tag to see what’s under it. If they then do not purchase you have an unprotected product on the shelf.

Look at tag size, yes size does matter!!! In this case a smaller tag may be your best option. You would want to use a postage stamp label. It is the size of, well…a postage stamp. They come in plain, barcode and black. Black is great to hide on a liquor bottle or other dark colored packaging.

Another option is to use the new “Clear Poly” Checkpoint labels . This label has a see through center and is very low profile. You place the clear poly label directly over the UPC barcode. The label basically disappears. And your scanner reads the barcode directly through the label. These things are great!

If you would like a free sample of any Checkpoint labels contact us.

For more information on retail theft prevention or retail anti theft devices or checkpoint systems contact us at anti shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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Why Do Companies Conduct Background Checks?

January 10, 2011 by

Why Do Companies Conduct Background Checks?

It’s now a given that most companies conduct background checks of some type on their prospective employees.  But what motivates them to budget for this portion of their pre employment screening program, beyond interviews and a basic application review?

For some, it is a policy requirement because management determined that in order to acquire the type of employee that fit their expectations, further checking into the applicant past was necessary.  Some do it because “everybody else” is doing it, and have made the decision that conducting background checks would be beneficial for their company as well.  And some do it because they were previously burned by a (former) employee who hurt the business by improper actions like theft, attendance, poor performance, or one of many other reasons that could have been reasonably anticipated through the application of a check conducted by a reputable background check company.

The latter case, being harmed by an employee, is by far the most painful to the company.  In many instances a poor choice of employees could and should have been prevented by including background checks in the hiring process.   It is a case of reacting to a problem rather than taking a proactive position to prevent the problem in the first place.

Which sounds like the better business decision?

Employee background checks are an affordable and simple insurance policy to reduce the risk of harm to a company by making a bad hire.

Explore your options in background checks by calling 770-426-0547 or click here for further information.

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Creating a Team Environment to Prevent Employee Theft – Atlanta Georgia

January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Employee theft is a problem for many organizations; one that can single handedly put you out of business if you’re not careful. So, do we ensure that the people who we hire as our greatest assets don’t turn into our ultimate downfall? The answer is ownership. You need to build a team environment; one where your employees feel that they have an actual stake in the success of the business rather than it just being a paycheck. Your employees’ attitude about their workplace will depend largely upon whether they feel they are being treated fairly by management.

In order to reduce employee theft you need to treat your employees as well as your customers.  The old saying “the customer’s always right” may be a good mantra to go by, but that doesn’t make your employees wrong by default. Always show them the proper amount of respect. Keep employees involved in the success of their department and store.  Profit sharing, bonuses or gift certificates can go a long way toward giving employees a sense of ownership and pride in the business. Be mindful of the environment you create. Threats, criticism or unreasonable workloads will not help your business.  Disgruntled employees look for ways to strike back and they normally do so in your pocket book.

Work with employees on how to respond to a shoplifting situation in a manner that won’t make them feel at risk. Make sure they understand their own limitations and the limitations of the law in circumstances of shoplifting. Acknowledge employees for doing things right, rather than just catching them doing something wrong. You’d be surprised how far you can actually get with the carrot rather than the stick. Preventing employee theft is everyone’s job so make everyone feel involved in the process and you’ll see the difference in your numbers.

For more information about employee theft investigation or internal theft contact us at employee theft or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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What dollar level should you tag and label?

January 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

This question comes up frequently. Your Checkpoint systems are very effective anti shoplifting devices. But you must use them in a well thought through, deliberate way. You should establish and write down what items you are going to put checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags on. Look at this plan once a month. Compare your employee’s feedback about what items seem to be shoplifted and what items you have protected. Then make changes.

1. Consider conducting a “cycle count” on an item or two that you are concerned with. A cycle count is simply doing a count of how many of one item you have on hand. Add in what you have replenished of that item. Then subtract what you have sold of that item. Your POS/cash register should help you with this last part. Even if you do not track items normally set it up to track this one item you are watching. Instruct your employees to ring that item up that way. This will tell you if you need to include that item in you’re anti shoplifting plan.

2. Set a dollar value threshold. For example if you sell items priced from $0.75 to $250 then you want to look at what items are cost effective to cover. If your margin on the $.075 item is 300% and the thefts have been low then it may not be a good candidate to place checkpoint tags or checkpoint labels on. But if that same item is a high theft item then the amount that you budget or feel is acceptable to absorb in loss may warrant protection.

Many retailers keep it simple and tag/label everything over a certain dollar amount such a $5.00. This approach is fine but could make your cost of labels higher that it could be. However, the trade off with tracking losses and the labor to do it may be worth it.

3. What merchandise items are hot right now? For example in Atlanta and other places in the US there are problems with “Blue Jeans Bandits”. These shoplifters come into a store and scoop up large quantities of higher end jeans and try to run out. In this case good quality hard tags or even Alpha 3 Alarm Hard Tags would be warranted.

Remember, just because you installed checkpoint systems does not mean you will stop shoplifting and the problem is solved. You must take ongoing action to keep the thieves out. Plan for what merchandise you want to use your checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags on. Then revisit this anti shoplifting plan monthly and make modifications. That keeps you on the offence not the defense!

For more information about  retail theft prevention , checkpoint systems , checkpoint tags , checkpoint labels , stop shoplifting contact us at anti shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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HR Uses Background Checks – Atlanta Georgia

January 7, 2011 by

HR Uses Background Checks – Atlanta Georgia

HR managers who use a background check company as part of their overall hiring policy to eliminate undesirable applicants are well versed in the application of the information that can and can’t be used when taking adverse action – that is not hiring the individual base on information contained in a background check.

Any negative information revealed, whether it is a criminal history, poor credit, or something else, should be directly related to the individual’s ability to do the job.  In other words, poor credit shouldn’t preclude hiring a person who doesn’t handle cash or who is closely supervised.  A minor criminal history shouldn’t eliminate a candidate depending on the severity of the offense, the age of the person involved, and the length of time since the offense occurred.

There is leeway in the decision making process, but as most HR professionals will tell you, all policies, including pre employment screening must be fairly and consistently applied for the position.

Conversely, there are situations where the presence of derogatory information absolutely should prevent an applicant from holding a particular position.  A day care worker shouldn’t be a registered sex offender, a home health nurse shouldn’t have a criminal conviction for violence of any sort, and a cashier should be free of any convictions of credit card fraud, obviously.

The HR department should set the breadth and scope of the background check to be conducted for each position and be sure all guidelines are followed.

The HR department should be able to depend on the background check company as a business partner, getting solid advice and guidance about their background check policies.

To discuss your background check requirements, call 770-426-0547 (770-253-4593 in Atlanta, Georgia) or click here.

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Clothing Security Tags

January 7, 2011 by

One of the most popular forms of retail theft prevention is the use of clothing security tags. If used properly they can serve as a huge deterrent to shoplifters who want to go undetected. However, they must be utilized properly or they’re just a waste of time, energy and money. I was in a popular retailer this past holiday season browsing for gifts when the familiar chirp of an EAS pylon filled the air. I instinctively looked towards the nearest exit where a man carrying several bags stopped and looked around with confusion in his eyes. A nearby sales associate, without bothering to look up from his task, blurted out, “Don’t worry about it; it’s been doing that all day!”

First of all you have to understand that there are 2 main types of clothing security tags. The first is the standard ink tag. This tag is attached to an article of clothing and must be removed by a magnetic device upon checkout. If it is not removed properly and someone attempts to remove it by force or some other means, several tubes of ink inside of the tag break permanently staining that article of clothing. This is probably not the best thing to use if tie-dye shirts make a comeback, but otherwise they’re a solid deterrent.

The second type is the EAS (or Electronic Article Surveillance) tag. These are placed on articles of clothing, similar to the ink tags, but instead of being filled with tubes of ink these tags will set off an audible alarm if they pass between EAS pylons without being deactivated or removed completely. However, as in the above mentioned case, if your store associates aren’t trained and dedicated to being vigilant these loss prevention measures are nearly useless. Clothing security tags can serve as a great deterrent, but the best way to combat shoplifters is with dedicated informed associates.

For more information about clothing security or security tags on clothes contact us Clothing Security Tags or call 1.770.426.0547

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Early Warning Signals Of Employee Theft – Atlanta Georgia

January 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Failure to properly implement or follow company policies and procedures is almost always a factor in how employees steal. Before you decide if you need an employee theft investigation and to prevent employee theft , internal theft review the following points:

  • Refunds/Returns
    – No management approval
    – Only one employee verifying merchandise
    – Not requiring a receipt
    – Management approval after a transaction is completed
    – Not requiring identification
  • Cash Theft
    – Management failure to recognize and respond to the early warning signals of internal theft . Contact us if you would like a copy.
    – Management failure to follow up on daily register shortages               – Unrestricted use of one cash drawer by multiple
    associates or failure to use mid-day cash audit
    – No such thing as “borrowing” of cash. Borrowing equals employee theft

– Lack of controls on cashier identification numbers
– Unrestricted “no sales”
– Management failure to track and question “no sales”
– Cash left unsecured and unattended
– Daily bank deposits not made
– Safe left open or left on “day lock”
– Consider removing $20 bills and larger to drop box (also deters robberies and grab & run)

 

  • Merchandise Theft
    – Management failure to recognize and respond to the
    early warning signals of employee theft. Again contact us if you would like a copy.
    – No management control at receiving room or dock doors
    – Management failure to recognize employees giving away merchandise
    –  Associate packages not checked
    – Associates not observed as they arrive at and depart
    from work
    – Failure to notice empty boxes and packages on the
    sales floor
    – Fraudulent discounts

 

  • Voids
    – No management approval
    – Management approval after the transaction is completed
    – Missing or inadequate explanations on documents
    – Cashiers allowed to use supervisor’s register keys/codes

 

  • Office Environments
    – Petty cash left out, unattended or unsecured
    – Not conducting a weekly-unannounced audit of petty cash
    – Not securing company checks and back stock at all times
    – Not auditing the back stock of company checks
    – Not requiring two signatures on a company check
    – Not cross training or switching job functions around periodically (eliminate sacred territories)
    – Not conducting a periodic audit of Account Payables
    Does the vendor really exist?
    Are we over-paying?
    Do orders look reasonable?
    Did we receive what we paid for?
    – Not conducting a periodic audit of Account Receivables. Are all payments accounted for and did they make it to the company’s bank account?Are we overcharging customers? Where is that money going?
    – Are expense reports audited for reasonableness?
    – Do expense reports have printed not handwritten receipts?

Employee theft must be investigated. To not have an employee theft investigation conducted when you suspect employee theft invites more.

Want more information about employee theft or internal theft contact us at employee theft investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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