Employment Screening – Integrity in Your People, Integrity in Your Brand

“Employment screening underpins an organisation’s integrity by demonstrating that it is not OK to lie in an attempt to gain employment. Appropriate standards are set right from the start.“

Are you selecting the people you want and screening out the people you don't want?

In the UK a culture still persists where a significant percentage of candidates believe that an acceptable route to gaining employment is to exaggerate, misrepresent or lie on their CV. These can include inflating previous job titles, exaggerating academic qualifications and failing to mention being sacked from a previous job. 

It is widely estimated that over 80% of employers in America outsource their background checking requirements. However in the UK, many companies do not take advantage of the widely available checks that can save significant financial loss and damaged reputation if misrepresentations or omissions come to light at a later stage.

In light of the predicted economic downturn and jobs slowdown, pressure on candidates is likely to intensify increasing the temptation to inflate grades or fabricate relevant employment history. In this climate, the challenge companies face is to avoid unnecessary costs as a consequence of poor recruitment and selection decisions by getting things right the first time.

Pre-employment screening is the verification of a candidate’s background for employment purposes. It is an overt and transparent process that always requires the consent of the candidate before any checks are commenced. The screening of potential employees has proven to be a valuable effective recruitment and risk management tool and is a highly cost effective way of ensuring that you hire the best people and keep out those who lack integrity.

PwC’s approach to employment screening

• A strategic approach to effective recruitment
• A risk mitigation approach to employment screening as part of a wider fraud prevention programme
• An innovative and compliant approach to employment screening checks and methodology
• A pragmatic approach to process, resources and technology to suit your specific requirements
• An international approach to our service delivery model through PwC’s global network of international offices which provides access to local resources and expertise and knowledge

How PwC’s dedicated employment screening team can help you:

• Developing a bespoke, flexible and responsive employment screening programme based on your specific requirements
• Advising on and reviewing your employment screening policy to ensure it is kept up to date with the requirements of the business and with developments in the marketplace
• Providing guidance on vendor review and selection
• Assisting with the implementation of employment screening programmes
• Reviewing internal screening-related processes and methodology
• Advising on other aspects of effective recruitment and people risk management

To discuss your employment screening requirements further, please contact Angus Sim, Director, Employment Screening, at angus.sim@uk.pwc.com or 020 7804 9842.