In the course of our work, we encounter many situations where, long after hiring a staff member, the practice owner discovers that this person has a "past." Our Hall of Shame is replete with "serial embezzlers."
And it's not only serial embezzlers that you need to worry about. Falsely claiming professional credentials also happens with some frequency, and then there are those who were simply fired from their last job for incompetence and hide this fact from you.
How is this possible? For most of you, next to your family, your practice is the most precious thing you possess, and yet you will allow almost anyone to work there, without the proper amount of scrutiny.
One in four US adults has a criminal record, and studies estimate that 60% of resumes have some level of falsehood.
I'll ask you a simple question that I have put to many practice owners. The most basic step in hiring is to check photo ID before hiring someone. Do you do that? If you don't, instantly this tells me that your hiring practices need improvement.
And if you don't check identification, it is also pretty likely that you aren't drug testing prospective employees, performing criminal records checks, or forensically checking past employment history.
If you want to improve the way you screen employees before you hire them, I'd suggest taking a look at our Owner Proactive Strategies offering -- it will help you improve many of your business practices, including hiring. More information on Owner Proactive Strategies is available here.
Do you have embezzlement concerns? Or do you want to improve your practice's protection against embezzlement? Are you the owner of multiple practices? Give Prosperident a call at 888-398-2327 and we will be happy to help. Or click here.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
David Harris CPA, CMA, MBA, CFE, CFF
Chief Executive Officer |