"Attempt To Murder"

"Attempt To Murder"

...read the text in bold red font, in the criminal section of the background screening report. 

Employee background screening has almost always been a part my role. I have seen many types of discrepancies (adverse findings). However, most are around education (forgery mainly) & employment (forgery, misappropriation of tenure/compensation). Criminal discrepancies are rare. So far, I might have encountered perhaps five such. This one, however, was the first. 

I informed the employee's manager, department head and business head about it. We then approached the colleague. "Sir, it is a false case put up against me & my father by my uncle (father's brother) due to a property dispute. Please believe me." He pleaded, as he went on to give specifics around the situation back home in Rajasthan. 

"We have to fire him. He is working for a client who is extremely fussy about everything, especially background checks. This won't fly. Besides, we can't keep a possible criminal in the organization!" said the department head, immediately once the employee left the meeting. "Hold on. Let's take some time to process this first." The business head interjected. He was a very level headed leader. Cool as a cucumber. "He is not yet declared as a criminal by the court. Who are we to make him suffer? The only mistake this guy made was not making a disclosure at the time of hiring. But he is in his early 20s, probably not experienced enough to understand the importance of such disclosures,'' he added.

In the next few days, the business leader did some digging. Through his network, he found out that there was some bad blood in the family. There was a possibility of the employee being truthful. He even spoke to his parents over a call. Once he was convinced, he reached out to someone senior on the client side & shared the situation. He requested that the employee be allowed to continue working on their project. The client was assured that the employee would be pulled out in case of any discipline/performance issues, or if the courts ruled against him. Given the pedigree of this leader, he was able to convince the client & it was decided to review the person's place on the team every six months. 

Given that court cases can take decades to close, this individual probably might still be with the same firm. Thriving in the faith shown by the leader in continuing with him, when many others might not have.

On that note, if you are a) A fresher or someone wanting to resume after a break and are struggling to get a job. b) Someone desperate for a big hike. c) Someone without the requisite educational qualification required for the job you are applying for - do not try to fabricate information or documents. The results can be devastating. Nearly every good organization performs background checks on new hires & it can leave a lifelong scar, caught or not. 

It would be an attempt to murder your own career & conscience.