Posted inHotelier Middle East

Comment: Trust issues

Whom are we trusting our business with?

by Hotelier Middle East Staff

Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned. Business reputation is an uncompromising philosophy that needs to be safeguarded at all times. In the culinary business too, this holds steadfastly true. The human capital that you have in your team is very vital to safeguarding the repute that you have built spending your entire career as the owner of the business.

This is precisely where the importance of reference checks plays a very vital role. You really need to ensure that you know whom you are hiring and bringing in to be part of your team. A background check on character, attitude and recommended skills would ensure that there are no unwanted surprises down the road. The positives of such an exercise would far outweigh the inconveniences. Conducting such a reference check before hiring a candidate, would certainly save the business from risks —which would otherwise be hidden — but huge.

One of the positive direct benefits for conducting the reference check would be an increased way of ensuring that only high quality and the right calibre of employees join the team. A clean background check may also indicate that an applicant is trustworthy, reliable and responsible and would drive forward the ethics of the business.

A clean reference check may help predict job performance and ensure that there is minimal reason for termination due to improper selection process. Furthermore, pre-employment background checks often discourage applications from potential individuals who are trying to hide something. In addition, it is an ideal way to increase an employer’s ability to provide a safe workplace, and may decrease instances of workplace unruliness.

These checks may enhance an employer’s ability to minimise theft losses as a result of employee dishonesty, and may potentially increase an employer’s ability to avoid negative publicity should an employee’s actions or history become public.

Now going into some of the disadvantages of such reference checks — because there are some! There is no way to avoid the cost, time, and manpower necessary to request and review a thorough background check, and there is the potential that the information in the background check report is incorrect, which may improperly disqualify a good candidate or, conversely, permit the hiring of an undesirable candidate. Pre-employment background checks cannot always indicate whether an individual with a problematic past has since reformed and become qualified for the job, and there is the potential of negatively affecting the morale of employees because they may believe that a policy of conducting background checks invades their privacy — at least in some cases.

Going by the pros and cons, it would certainly be worthwhile to go through the modalities of such a process to ensure that the business is protected from the risk of unwanted elements joining the team.

Obviously the purpose of such an exercise does carry some risk, but an increasing number of small business owners are looking at such a process as a frontline defence against the potential problems when a new employee is hired.

About the Author: With more than 28 years of hospitality experience globally, Naim Maadad is the founding CEO of Gates Hospitality, which owns and operates hospitality concepts including Ultra Brasserie, The Black Lion Public House & Dining, Bistro des Arts, Reform Social & Grill, Publique, and Folly by Nick & Scott. It has ownership of Six Senses Zighy Bay. Contact: Naim@gateshospitality.com.