The Hindu Business Line : Staff verification norms to be tightened

Bangalore, Dec. 7 Shaken by the magnitude of the terror that struck the two hotels in Mumbai, companies across industries would step up employee verification procedures, especially for contract employees and those employed in ‘sensitive positions’ such as security staff, hospitality and airlines frontline staff and telecom employees.

Mr Rajesh A R, Vice-President of staffing solutions company TeamLease Services says that for ‘sensitive positions,’ there is likely to be additional verifications like checking permanent addresses, apart from routine education and previous employment checking.

“Before the Mumbai incident, companies did not feel the need to spend the money on additional checks such as these, especially for employees whose salaries were about Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000/ month.” Companies will therefore prefer to employ people who come with third party verification. “Candidates who have got themselves verified would stand a better chance of being employed,” he feels.

Very soon, he believes, this would also become mandatory for temp (contract) employees in the hospitality, airline, BFSI, retail and telecom sectors.

Col Vijay Reddy, Director of Footprints, a background screening firm, says that he has been recommending permanent residence verification of employees to all his clients, especially for contract staff in security agencies and the hospitality sectors.

“Now, they realise that people from the neighbouring region can easily pass off for Indians unless verified for permanent residency and that also by an independent agency.”

Police verification

The hospitality sector, meanwhile, says the industry has been going through the usual procedure of identity checks. According to Ms Harinder Singh, General Manager, The Lalit Ashok, Bangalore, the hotel does go through the proper process of verifying for some positions. “We make sure there is police verification and identity checks too,” she says.

Mr Subrata Majumder, General Manager, The Park, Bangalore, says, “We make sure we demand police verification for various positions. We check documents, but how genuine they are is definitely a concern.”

Related Stories:
Corporates may tighten norms to screen employees
Industry demand places private security guards in new roles

More Stories on : Human Resources | Terrorism | Security

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page