Employment Screening: A look back at 2011

One of the highlights for Mind Your Business was Founder and CEO Karen Caruso being selected as the 2011 North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year by the US Small Business Association. It was a true honor which really showed just how hard working, passionate and dedicated Karen is in her work. The desire to help people was what founded MYB and is the reason we continue to exist. For Karen, while “fiscal gains are inevitable for a successful company, they are certainly not a pre-requisite for us”. The congratulatory letter stated “Your hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to your community have helped you succeed. The SBA is pleased to recognize your achievements and your role in driving our nation’s economic growth”. Another step forward for MYB was our successful move into social media. Social channels such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn –  as well as this blog – allow us to extend our reach, and our values, further afield. One of the disappointments of 2011, however, has been how the economy has continued to struggle. Figures of authority have failed to agree on how to move the country forward and out of this stagnant economy – the effects of which are devastating. In the United States, the unemployment rate currently sits at 9.1%, with 14 million Americans out of work. It is expected to take five more years for the global market to return to it’s pre-recession levels. What is a difficult situation for many actually puts businesses at an advantage. Part of making more astute hiring decisions often results in more stringent employment checks. More thorough background checks allows a business to ensure they hire the ideal applicant who ticks all the boxes. This leads to better protection of each business from hiring risks, and a more stable future. Drug testing for those on welfare has been another aspect of 2011 well worth highlighting. With multiple states introducing legislation on this, the jury is still out as to whether it is actually saving taxpayers money. However, we predict that more states will continue to enforce such laws, as citizens like to see a hard line taken on how their tax dollars are spent. Overall, 2011 has had it’s ups and downs – as is the case of every year. Nonetheless, at MYB we like to focus on the positive – of which there has been plenty. We are very excited with the position we are in moving into 2012, and look forward to working with current, and new, customers as the new year rolls in. Wishing you all the best, and a prosperous 2012!]]>