IGNORANCE IS NO LONGER BLISS
IN POST 9-11 AMERICA, BACKGROUNDS CHECKS BECOME STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR CIVILIAN LIFE
At 8:44 a.m. on September 11, 2001, American eyes viewed the world differently. In the next thirty seconds, the country exhaled what would be its last collective breath of naïve security. In a moment, what unfolded marked what would become one of the most sharply divisive moments in history, changing the worldview of all Americans in an instant. September 11th will be forever remembered as one grievous day which blanched, then ultimately unified a nation in a resolve to adapt and protect our citizens amidst increasingly uncertain global circumstances.
While impossible to monitor every hard and soft target, our most powerful means of protection is the savvy use of technology and intelligence. America post 9-11 has emerged with a new and keenly vigilant mindset. Erika Worth, former private investigator and founder of Collective Intelligence recognized the need for reliable and relevant background checks for companies and individuals seeking peace of mind and protection of assets, without compromising the very civil liberties we seek to protect.
The usefulness of background checks in the corporate world and small business set is clear. Drug and alcohol history, criminal history, prior education and employment records are all just a few essential sources of vital information. In this digital age, companies are now armed with the knowledge to make informed decisions in regards to human resources and security that will, in time, make a monumental difference in employee productivity, and eventually, the workplace as a whole.
Collective Intelligence, now a multimillion dollar company is now one of the leading private investigation and background check firms in the country, with a niche in the entertainment industry security screening reality television hopefuls. Also catering to more corporate accounts, Worth explains that the trick is in is closely customizing the intelligence checks to the needs of each individual client.
The Endless streams and sources of information are useless without an adept interpreter.
Over ten years of field and technical experience privies Erika Worth to a detailed and comprehensive understanding of how to access any type of information on record, and the wisdom to know precisely what data is worth ‘the get’, and why. Her detailed eye is fixed on the latest developments in intelligence, always keeping one step ahead of her targets.
Worth explains that when researching for each specific client, resources and focus are reserved, utilizing only the information specifically suited to the task at hand. Reality television shows often request health histories of contestants, contractors require criminal records, delivery companies need DMV abstracts, and so forth.
In 1981, The Washington Post returned a Pulitzer Prize after it was revealed that staff writer Janet Cooke has falsified not only the winning piece, but her education credentials as well. Employee theft, forgery and fraud are just a few examples of company loss which can be averted though proper intelligence. Security and safety as the ultimate goal requires that security screenings remain a permanent fixture in an ever changing corporate reality.
Background checks have become an imperative procedure in responsibly managing a workplace of any size in any industry. The rose colored glasses have been shattered, but in the wake of this transformation resides knowledge. Ignorance is no longer considered bliss, as we evolve and adapt to modern living in a world that demands personal and corporate accountability.
