Yahoo changes background check language for Mayer
resigning due to resume fraud not too long ago. It caused huge embarrassment to Yahoo, as well as highlighting how important employment verification is prior to making a hire. In that instance, Scott Thompson had claimed on his resume that he had a degree in computer science. A simple background check performed once he was hired proved that this, in fact, was not the case. Yahoo seem to have learnt their lesson, and phrased background check language in the contract for their new CEO – Marissa Mayer – a little differently than they had done with Thompson. Mayer’s letter released today reads: “You represent that all information provided to Yahoo! or its agents with regard to your background is true and correct.” Thompson’s letter, dated January 3, read: ”Please understand that this offer is contingent upon the successful completion of your background check.” It is certainly a step to ensuring that Yahoo cannot be caught wrong footed again. While we don’t have an insight into exactly what the employment screening process is at Yahoo, they definitely seem to be legally protecting themselves from any skeletons in the closet. Hard to relate? It can be pretty hard to relate to stories like this sometimes. Yahoo are a multi-billion dollar internet giant – most business aren’t. So although your employment screening process might be a little different, there are certainly some key aspects of a background screen that are consistent, regardless of the size of your company. Primarily, those are:
- Put a policy in place. Don’t rely on your gut and forgo background checks. The long-term benefits on a short-term challenge in setting up your policy will make it more than worth it.
- Hire an employment screening service to help. It’s really tough to get started on your own, so take the pressure off and let a professional screening company do the hard work for you.
- Keep screening regularly. Don’t simply run a pre-employment check and then call it a day. Set up a process whereby these checks are run on current employees too, to ensure proper protection of the business.
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