Reference Checking

When hiring new employees, the best barometer of a person’s honesty and reliability is the reference from a previous employer or a named referee. Changes in recent employment legislation have understandably deterred some employers from providing critical references, thus allowing some applicants to name compliant individuals and exaggerate or ,invent the nature of their relationship. It is now all too easy for a job applicant to name a close friend or relative as a reference, stating that they have previously worked for them, or had a professional relationship with them. Too often Human Resources departments send out a letter with an enclosed envelope without checking to whom they are sending the letter requesting a reference.

How often do employers ask for proof of qualifications claimed have been achieved?

Our investigators can visit persons named in references, and to establishments where applicants claimed to have been trained or have studied, to ensure that all information is bona fide. Where employees are given positions of responsibility, unless such checks are carried out, prior to that person commencing employment, potential employers may be exposing themselves to financial risk or operational difficulties.