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Retail Background Screening Boosts Loss Prevention Strategies

Tammy Cohen, PHR, SHRM-CP
September 20 2016
Retail businesses are at the heart of the U.S. economy and include national chains, regional convenience shops, and local stores. According to the National Retail Federation, retail contributes $2.6 trillion to the annual gross domestic product of the United States. As one of the US’s largest industries, retail companies place a high priority on prevention to control loss.

Retail would be unable to have such a tremendous impact on the American economy without the labor of millions of employees. However, hiring the right employees is vital to the health of the retail sector, as these businesses lose billions of dollars each year and must implement loss prevention strategies to mitigate employee theft.

One way to bolster loss prevention strategies and other risks associated with hiring retail employees is to implement effective background screening programs. As employees are a large part of the business, it’s important to assure that your hiring choices are strong. Utilizing background screening with criminal history searches, credit checks, and drug testing can prove invaluable when choosing someone you can hire for the long term, not fire in short order.

 

High-Quality Background Checks for Retail Industry

Engaging the services of an experienced third-party provider is the best way to implement retail industry background screening programs. A professional background screener can work with your retail business to conduct pre-employment criminal history searches, credit history searches, and drug tests.

 

Criminal History

A criminal history search can verify if an applicant for a retail job has been convicted of any crimes, such as theft or embezzlement. Your screening provider should review several years of records from multiple counties and states to ensure coverage of all the possible places where an applicant has lived or worked. The provider should also check federal records for crimes at that level.

 

Credit Checks

Credit history checks are another important element of effective background screenings that can boost loss prevention at retail outlets. Credit checks can uncover whether a candidate has a record of fraud or has incurred a significant amount of debt, which may pose a risk to companies in the financial sector or companies filling asset-handling positions.

 

Drug Testing

Pre-employment drug testing contributes to effective background screening programs and loss prevention strategies, as the tests help hiring managers opt out of potential bad hires before they jeopardize retail operations. Random post-employment drug testing can also reveal employees who are engaging in unsafe behavior while on the job.

Most employers are familiar with urine drug tests, but there are other equally effective methods, such as saliva and hair testing. InfoMart conducts lab-based, on-site, and random drug screenings to help keep your retail business safe.

Utilizing drug testing boosts the effectiveness of loss prevention by ensuring a safe and productive workforce. Employees who abuse drugs compromise the safety of both coworkers and customers, the consequences of which can cost millions in lawsuits, insurance, productivity, and more. Drug abusers also have higher rates of absenteeism, which increases turnover costs and the staffing expenses associated with finding replacements.

 

Choose a Background Check Service

In conclusion, a comprehensive background check provider can assist retail businesses with implementing effective screening programs that improve operations while enhancing loss prevention efforts. These programs can greatly reduce employee theft and ensure customers have a pleasant shopping experience. When customers have reliable employees to assist them, retail business can thrive.

About Tammy Cohen

Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record. To learn more about Tammy, visit www.tammycohen.com.

About InfoMart

InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.

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