The relay takes place prior to each Olympics and is the first sign that the Games are heading to the host city, this places huge responsibility on the organisers to ensure it runs smoothly.
Throughout 2011 the importance of background checks came to prominence as a result of the Andy Coulson saga, so it is no surprise that LOCOG has announced before the chosen candidates can take part in the torch relay, they will undergo extensive background checks.
The torchbearers will become some of the most high-profile faces in the lead up to the Olympic Games and therefore background checks are necessary to ensure they are suitable for the role.
The organisers must be able to recruit people in full confidence that they are right for the job. Not only would it be costly and disruptive if mistakes came to light, but if the organisers were not to take such precautions the potential damage to the Olympics' reputation could be severe.
The same precautions need to be taken whether hiring temporary workers for a high-profile event or employing a new member of permanent staff. Either way you need to know who you are hiring. By using background checks, employers are giving themselves some peace of mind that the person on paper is the same person that is sat across from them in the interview.
At the interview stage, mutual trust and confidence needs to be formed between the employer and candidate, and the use of background checks allows for this important, unwritten term in the employer/employee relationship to develop. ADP estimates that one in three candidates falsify details of their employment history, leaving out details such as career gaps, short periods of employment or dismissals, through a fear of rejection. By confirming that credentials have not been falsified, trust is encouraged.
Hiring people is costly and time consuming, so a thorough checking procedure can make all the difference. Although verifying ID and educational credentials takes checks to a certain level, qualitative information can often be the most revealing information about a person. Therefore the inclusion of a qualitative dimension to the checks can complete the picture. HR checks and reference interviews obtain more in-depth opinions, but in order to get the right kind of information, it is essential to have an interviewer who can build a rapport with the referee, something which background check providers are trained to do.
When employing someone for a position of influence and seniority, or for those who will be carrying the Olympic flame, it is worth searching every platform possible in order to build a clear picture of the candidate.
A further level of check can be carried out with a media search, ensuring a well-rounded picture of the candidate is obtained. These check if candidates have previously appeared in the media, with the search also including LinkedIn as a source of information on the candidate's professional life. This will be particularly relevant for the torchbearers at the Olympics.
Although background checks for those hoping to be torchbearers in the Olympic Games will take some time, the process is not as costly as might be imagined. The time and effort to correct any costly errors made in the recruitment process outbalances the costs of hiring a background checks provider. The in-depth process gives the employer more confidence in their hiring decision and helps to make sure that employees within the company are a better match.
In 2012, the use of background checks is likely to increase yet again as competition for jobs increases. Using background checks aids employers in their recruitment decisions and allow hirers to build a full picture of each candidate in relation to the job that they are applying for. Let's face it no one wants to interview Jekyll and realise they have employed Hyde.
Frances McCormick, product manager, ADP
