The Safe Hiring Manual: The Complete Guide to Employment Screening Background Checks for Employers, Recruiters, and Job Seekers
The Safe Hiring Manual: The Complete Guide to Employment Screening Background Checks for Employers, Recruiters, and Job Seekers, 2nd edition. By Lester S. Rosen. Facts on Demand Press, www.brbpublications.com; 734 pages; $24.95.
Although the subtitle has changed and the chapters have been rearranged, the second edition of The Safe Hiring Manual retains the previous edition’s valuable information and brings readers up to date. One unfortunate consistency between this edition and the first is the presence of typographical errors and inconsistent references. As with the first edition, however, the material’s quality overcomes the spotty copyediting.
The reader will find a wealth of information pertaining to background checks—what they are, how they are conducted, and why they should be done—with numerous updated examples of lawsuits brought for lack of due diligence or the negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of an employee. This edition also includes new material on lawsuits against screening firms.
The author, Lester Rosen, is an attorney and CEO of Employment Screening Resources. He is also a prominent figure in the National Association of Professional Background Screeners Background Screening Credentialing Council, but he doesn’t let his affiliations slant his presentation of the information. Rather, Rosen presents intelligent guidance in creating a comprehensive and safe hiring program.
A safe hiring program involves the development of clear, consistent, and legally vetted policies covering all aspects of the process. The application for employment is where the screening process begins, and Rosen offers much insight into developing an application that is both lawful and useful. The reader will learn critical information that needs to be part of the application as well as which questions to avoid.
There is an analysis of the April 2012 EEOC Guidance on the Use of Criminal Records by Employers, and a discussion of other new government requirements. A new chapter on social media background checks discusses the legal risks involved with them and offers guidance in setting company policies in their regard. This book also presents international screening material.
Human resource generalists, security professionals, consultants, and small business owners will find The Safe Hiring Manual a valuable reference and a worthwhile read.
Reviewer: Timothy P. Sutton, CPP, has more than 20 years’ experience in the security industry. He is a member of the ASIS Healthcare Security Council and past chairman of the Central Illinois Chapter. He has served on committees in the development of ASIS Standards.
