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Keeping Terrorists out of the Workplace

When it comes to keeping terrorists out of the nation's workforce, much of the public discussion is centered on what measures employers in sensitive industries should take to prevent terrorists from becoming employees. Because it is not clear exactly how a terrorist act may occur, however, all employers should exercise caution during the hiring process; especially considering that an employer may simply be used as a means of blending in and a source of income while a future attack is being planned.

To aid in the fight against terrorists in the workplace, there are a number of databases that serve as valuable resources. The most commonly used is the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), which lists economic sanctions against individuals, businesses and organizations deemed hostile to the U.S. Other watch lists such as those maintained by Interpol, the Canadian government, the Bank of England and others can be accessed by a background screening firm at the request of an employer.

While a search of these lists can be very beneficial, employers should use them as a smart companion to other safe hiring practices such as criminal record searches and employment verifications. There is a significant possibility, as with any database, a terrorist may not be on the list because he or she has yet to be identified or has changed his or her name to elude identification.

For more information on InfoMart's comprehensive background screening solutions - including watch list searches - please contact sales@infomart-usa.com or 770-984-2727 option 4.

(source: http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac)