Do the right thing

Safe Work Place Environment

We are required by OSHA to provide a safe workplace environment for our employee’s. I was at a rather large business lunch last month and the gentleman sitting next to me was sharing with us a sad terrible story about an incident that happened at his expanding manufacturing company. Apparently one of his management staff attempted to date a female line technician, when the young lady refused his numerous advances she threatened to go to the HR department and lodge a compliant. The line manager waited for the employee by her car and then forced her back into the plant and viciously beat her then raped her repeatedly.

Of course the suspect was arrested and the victim was sent to the hospital, but this is just the beginning of this tragic story. Now the victim has filed a lawsuit against the employer and he is facing heavy fines from the OSHA investigators who were alerted by the victim’s family. The CEO looked at us and said “I did everything I could to prevent this I have the best security there is, the finest electronic devices in my plant why is this incident my fault?” Then he asked me to help and for the last few weeks I have been.

I found the suspect manager had been arrested and convicted twice for rape in two different states and he was currently on parole. No one knew. I have been explaining to my new friend that a safe work environment is more than physical security you must conduct background checks on all staff not only new hires but the current staff as well not just criminal records but credit, DMV records the patriot act and all the available sexual predator boards. After all these people give you a signed release so you can check out their backgrounds take advantage of it protect your people and your company. His first reaction was to say; “Well isn’t that a bit like big brother.”
My reply was what you are really asking is isn’t that going to cost me a lot of money.

Probably let’s see the fines and lawsuits are coming up on Ten million dollars you do the math. Business in the 22nd century is not like doing business ever was.
Let’s talk about the big brother issue, we check public record information we don’t slink around at night in the dark corners compiling secret dossiers on folks. We have the tools we have the technology don’t fear them embrace them. Don’t just initiate a screening program to placate your liability insurance, do it for your people. Even a simple background check would have caught this monster before he traumatized this poor girl who has to live with this the rest of her life. Do the right thing. Protect your people.