The Trouble With Uber: Why Background Screening Should Matter to Employers

On the early evening of February 21, 2016, an Uber driver went on a shooting spree in between picking up and dropping off passengers. Reports indicate that Uber driver Jason Dalton fired indiscriminately on six different locations in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His victims include a 14-year old girl, and eight others. His passengers had no indication that they were riding around in the back of a vehicle driven by a serial killer in the middle of a killing crime wave.

This is the kind of activity that really asserts the need for employee background screening for all companies. This suspect, Jason Dalton, has caused damage to Uber’s reputation. It’s probably going to cost Uber hundreds of thousands of dollars in terms of legal representation if the passengers sue Uber for placing their lives in jeopardy. It’s also going to lead to lost revenue from passengers who will choose one of Uber’s competitors.

Employers need to protect their wallets and their reputation by conducting background screening of their employees and contractors. This can be done by hiring an objective, third-party employment screening solution to ensure that no record or negative history is left unturned.

The Cost of Complacence

Companies that do not conduct background screening and hire employees based on gut instinct or good vibes can cost themselves and their customers with a host of potential negative repercussions, including:

• Theft
• Violence
• Corporate Espionage
• Vandalism

Most of these things may be avoided by investing in a background screening service that includes a criminal records search. Employees who are hired on a handshake alone can end up costing the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Uber and the Importance of Reputation Management

Every good executive realizes that employees are basically representatives of the company. If an employee goes out into the world, especially while on duty, and commits a heinous crime, it will reflect very negatively on the company for years. This would lead to lost income and the expense of trying to mend a broken reputation.

Contact Screening Intelligence today to make sure your potential employees are thoroughly background checked before you hire them.

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advice regarding actions to take in any situation.