Negligent Hiring and Workplace Safety
Workplace violence is a tragic reality for the families, friends and colleagues of those who are injured or killed in workplace attacks each year. While some of these attacks are unforeseen, many can be avoided through thorough background screenings and preventative measures. Negligent hiring occurs when companies do not perform their due diligence when hiring new employees. This potentially harmful practice can place the lives of their employees at risk.
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Prevention of Negligent Hiring
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Negligent hiring can be prevented by performing thorough background inspections on each new hire. Companies can contract with employee screening firms to conduct these inspections, which typically take 24 to 72 hours. These screenings search various sources for criminal records, sexual offender status and credit history. Prevention of negligent hiring is key to reducing workplace violence.
Consequences of Negligent Hiring
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The consequences of negligent hiring, aside from the the obvious danger to human life, are numerous. Litigation related to negligent hiring can be costly for the offending business, with some cases bringing judgments in the millions of dollars. General business insurance costs can substantially increase in the event of a negligent hiring lawsuit. Other potential consequences include damage to the business' reputation and decrease in profitability.
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Screening Regulations
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Companies must abide by federal regulations when conducting pre-employment screenings. While these screenings provide a great deal of information about the job applicant, certain information is not allowed to be on the reports. Information such as bankruptcies over 10 years old, collection account past seven years old and settled tax liens past seven years old cannot appear on these reports.
Workplace Safety Awareness
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Employers and their employees must be cognizant of the threat of workplace violence. Safety in the workplace can be encouraged by developing a zero-tolerance policy toward aggressive and violent behavior. Installing security devices such as closed-circuit television cameras can help enhance workplace safety.
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