Recruitment tip: Why background checks matter

If the only thing standing between you and a fantastic new job was a little white lie, what would you do? Would you tell the fib and not look back? Or would you take the moral high road?

Nine out of 10 people would tell the lie, say Sheila Grosdidier, RVT, MCP, PHR, and Andreas Pahl, MBA, CVPM, speakers at the practice management program of CVC in Kansas City. So how can practice managers identify these lies-especially the big ones, such as an undisclosed criminal record-before they unknowingly hire a dishonest employee?

The quick, easy solution: background checks. Nearly one-third of background checks reveal information that will give you pause, says Grosdidier. Especially since veterinary practices house controlled substances-not to mention a cash drawer-it’s essential that you protect your practice. More benefits of running a background check include:

> They’re easy to do. Just hire a company like Hire Right or EBI. Many payroll companies, such as ADP, also offer background check services.

> They’re fairly quick. You should get the information within 48 hours.

Grosdidier says that you should ask interviewees to sign a release that gives you permission to run a background check. What happens if they decline? Then they’re likely hiding something-and you’ve just saved the time and effort of pursuing that candidate further.