Stretching the Truth to Get the Job: ADP BackCheck Poll Reveals Nearly One in
Five Canadians Would Exaggerate The Facts To Get A Job
TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - Nearly one in five Canadians (19%) would exaggerate previous responsibilities in order to land a job, according to a poll released today by ADP Canada Co. (ADP Canada), Canada's leading provider of payroll, HR, and time and attendance management services.
The ADP BackCheck poll also revealed that Canadian employers are not always diligent in screening or conducting background checks of prospective candidates. Nearly six in 10 of those surveyed (59%) said they had obtained a job without the employer checking references.
Additionally, poll findings reveal that a large majority (84%) would feel frustrated if they knew someone had been promoted or hired at their workplace because they had lied on their résumé. When faced with this knowledge, colleagues are on the fence about what to do: nearly half (49%) would report them. With respect to their boss though, fewer (20%) would blow the whistle if they discovered dishonesty; most (59%) would simply think less of them.
"Hiring the wrong candidate can be costly for employers, in both time and money, and can cause stress within the workplace," said Mark Kohler, Director of Marketing for ADP Canada. "Employers can count on ADP BackCheck pre-employment screening services to help their organization recruit and hire with confidence."
Stretching the truth to get the job
Results of the ADP BackCheck poll show that job-seeking Canadians who stretch the truth fall under one of five "Tall Tale" types:
Paycheque Pretenders: would exaggerate their current or previous compensation (27%).
Eager Embellishers: would gloss over relatively inconsequential details such as the duration of a job, or gaps of time between jobs (15%).
Time-Will-Tells: would lie about skills they don't have, like speaking German or operating a forklift - gaps that would eventually become evident (17%).
Fact-Fudgers: would exaggerate current or previous job responsibilities (19%).
Phonies in Disguise: would falsify credentials key to the field or position (12%).
To help employers make the best choices when hiring, ADP Canada now provides a complete set of customizable pre-employment screening solutions with ADP BackCheck.
About ADP BackCheck
ADP BackCheck offers employers a number of benefits, including:
- Fewer bad hires - Making informed decisions reduces management headaches and can save money. The cost of a bad hire ranges from one to three times an employee's annual salary.
- Reduced employee turnover - Hiring the right candidates means a lower employee turnover rate and less expense for the business.
- Reduced employee theft - Screening potential employees for criminal records or past workplace incidents can reduce costs associated with theft.
- A safer workplace - One in six violent crimes occurs in the workplace.* Protecting your employees from those with a history of violence, theft or other serious offences minimizes work disruption and improves morale.
*Criminal Victimization in the Workplace, Statistics Canada, February 2007.
ADP BackCheck services include:
- Criminal Record Check
- Credit Bureau Inquiry with ID Cross-Check
- Reference Check
- Employment Verification
- Education Verification
- Driver's Abstract
- Credential Verification
More information is available at adp.ca/backcheck.
About ADP Canada
ADP Canada is Canada's leading provider of payroll, HR, and time and attendance management services. For more than 60 years, clients have counted on ADP to provide reliable, proactive support and on-call expertise to help control operational costs, increase productivity, maintain regulatory compliance and improve employee retention. Nearly 50,000 clients of all sizes choose ADP Canada to help manage their employee operations. ADP Canada employs more than 1,800 associates in offices across the country. For more information, visit adp.ca.
The ADP BackCheck Poll was conducted from September 24 - 30, 2010 using an online survey through Research House. In total, 1,002 Canadians were surveyed. Results for the full sample are considered accurate +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
For further information:
Deborah Rowe
Environics Communications
416-969-2726 / [email protected]
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