Current topic:
Reduce Identity Theft
Employee Drug Testing Reduces Identity Theft
April 2008
Employee drug testing has become a standard of employment background screening for a variety of reasons, including a lowered incidence of workplace accidents, higher morale, lower turnover, and even lowered worker's comp claims. But now it seems that by screening employees for drug abuse, employers can also minimize incidences of identity theft.
Identity theft is one of the most common "white collar" crimes committed today. Every year around 10 million Americans fall victim to identity theft, and pay thousands of dollars to recover lost funds and damaged credit. The theft of personal information has become as popular as stealing cold, hard cash, and any workplace that features access to personal information has to be very careful about who does and doesn't work there.
Traditional employment background screening to prevent identity theft has included a criminal records search, resume check, and even a credit check to uncover financial difficulties that could tempt an employee to steal information or funds.
But now, a link has been found between identity theft and drug abuse, reflecting the need for quality employee drug testing to minimize this problem. Drug abusers steal credit card information and financial in formation to fund their habit, and employers are seeing an increase of this phenomenon on a nation-wide level.
In Utah, random drug testing is being considered for anyone who has access to personal information after one state employee with a methamphetamine habit was found to be selling state citizens' social security numbers for cash. This person had passed a traditional employment background screening process, and the drug abuse had gone unnoticed for years before the identity theft was discovered.
Clearly drug abuse is one of the worst influences that can sneak into an otherwise productive and trustworthy workforce, proving that random employee drug testing is perhaps the smartest way to protect the integrity of any modern workplace.
Call EBI to discuss background screening for your firm through a custom program to suit your company's needs.
Our thorough background screening programs can make the difference in helping ensure you're candidates are who
they say they are
Criminal records searches. Random drug testing. Reference checks. Everything for a comprehensive picture of your prospective employees.
Call us at 800.324.7700 for details.
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