Background checks need of the hour

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Mumbai: Reports about a terrorist involved in the November 26 attack on Mumbai having worked as a chef in the Taj for the past 10 months to gain familiarity with the layout of the hotel has given a fresh lease to questions on whether a proper background check is conducted on prospective employees.

Unfortunately, unlike in the West, background checks are not an imperative part of the recruitment process in India. For instance, when FE questioned the Oberoi Group on whether a strict background check is undertaken for prospective employees, officials, without giving specifics, said, “Staff employed by our hotels, whether regular or workers on contract, are screened thoroughly at the time of recruitment.”

A Taj spokesperson, on the other hand, said, “Investigators have not informed us about any hotel employee or contractual staff being involved in the terrorist attack.” A mail sent to Marriot International did not elicit any response.

Incidentally, a background check performed by specialised agencies includes candidates’ performance records, a verification of his address, qualifications, family background, criminal record, economic offences and undesirable personal habits. In some companies, a drug test is part of the process. However, in India, only a few of these steps, like verification of addresses and qualifications, and reference checks, are undertaken by HR departments.

Some companies, especially those in the IT sector, hire reputed verification agencies, which undertake rigourous background checks on a candidate. Personnel in such verification agencies are well-trained in fraud detection. The agencies charge anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000 per employee, depending on the check performed.