INTRODUCTION

In the giving jobs to ex-criminal, companies and HR managers are well cognizant of the hazards of neglectful-hiring charges and are logically concerned about workplace crime. Every year about 700,000 people are released from penitentiaries and prisons in the United States and more than 40 per cent of them are arrested again within three years of their release. These alarming stats spur the need of criminal background screening as a must.

CASE STUDY

This is case about a well-famed American-based multinational online transportation Company which provides cab service to the customers via mobile apps, which grants riders with smartphones to submit a trip request which then is routed to drivers. The case here is that Company failed to have background screening for the drivers, though the nature of the job is very much sensitive.

An investigative watchdog came to know these practices so it decided to have a dig into this. Three convicted criminals told to apply to become drivers at the cab company, and to surprisingly they all were accepted.

One applicant served 12 years in jail after found guilty at seven counts of felony.  Second-one was convicted of careless driving and of driving with a suspended license; and third-one was charged with battering and harassment in 1997 after trying to run down her boyfriend.

During the hiring process, none of them were asked for fingermarks or to disclose any previous imprisonments or convictions. They simply had to give proof of their driver's license, registration number, social security number, and date of birth.

A civil lawsuit filed against Company claiming the online cab-service Cemployed 25 former criminals in California about whom prosecutors for Los Angeles and San Francisco say charges include property crimes, sex offenses, and murder. Prosecutors also blamed that Company also mislead the customers about its screening process before hiring the drivers. The company is also charged with putting the lives of its passengers into danger.

OUTCOME

The case in sub-judice, but If proved negligent in hiring or failing to have a criminal background checks, the company would be slapped with fine which may run into millions of dollars and also would dent the reputation of the Company.