Business Services

• Why Conduct Background Checks?
• Background Investigation Packages
• Drug Screening
• Video and Photographic Surveillance
• Video Surveillance Systems
• Worker's Compensation Investigations
• Insurance Investigations
• Asset Searches / Investigations
• Construction Site Theft and Vandalism

Background Investigations, Pre-Employment Screening and Drug Screening

Today, basic due diligence with regards to pre-employment background screening is the responsibility of the employer. Deceitful job candidates who lie about their credentials or their previous employment record become a liability and a potential insurance risk to their new employer. Professionals with years of investigative experience should conduct these background searches because they always go beyond the contacts provided by the job applicant to ensure the information is accurate and legitimate. At Gillespie Investigations, we work with you and/or human resources departments to provide the most complete information about a new hire or existing employee. We work closely with our clients to recommend hiring procedures. Our team of specially trained agents can also work with your legal staff and executive committees to process any threatening activity and will testify during trials about their discoveries during their investigations.

Trust

If you are a business owner, answer these questions:

• Who is handling your cash register?
• Who is working in your warehouse handling your expensive merchandise?
• Who is making your deliveries?

Are these people you trust? What criteria did you use to base your trust on?

Do you know who you are really dealing with? Background investigations have become a necessary ingredient in virtually all walks of life to help us assess the credibility and integrity of an individual or business.

We all have been affected by the tragedy of 9/11 and our lives have changed considerably. Some of us have even been victims of business scams, identity theft, and criminal activity. Unfortunately, many of us are not as trusting as we once were and in many instances we have a difficult time trusting people to be who they say they are. You need accurate and reliable information to make informed decisions when it comes to your business, personal and family interests.

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Why Conduct Background Checks?

The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) spells it out clearly. The need to hire the most qualified candidate, and the inherent risk in hiring the wrong candidate, has never been greater. Workplace crime, unethical business practices, and misleading résumés are on the rise. The costs of fraud, embezzlement, theft and violence are a multi-billion dollar drain on our economy, bleeding organizations both large and small. Furthermore, negative publicity associated with negligent hiring—especially as the result of a less than thorough background check—can devastate the very foundation of a trusted organization. Organizations owe it to themselves and to everyone with whom they come in contact with to know everything they can about their employees and volunteers, and the most effective method to accomplish this is by conducting thorough background checks.

Background checks are being used today to not only screen prospective employees and volunteers, but also to screen prospective business partners, political candidates, board members, trial witnesses, community leaders, sporting coaches and jurors. Additionally, the press frequently uses background checks for its news stories. Background checks are also an integral part of criminal, civil, or financial investigations.

A simple background check could be the difference between your business's success or its failure.

Gillespie Investigations can help you make a sound decision by providing customized, timely and accurate background investigations, pre-employment screening, employment and education verification, and drug screens. Let Gillespie Investigations help you avoid hiring people with criminal histories, questionable pasts, inaccurate resumes, and drug, alcohol and financial problems

Avoid Violence in the Workplace

• 10% of job applicants have a criminal record
• Almost 75% of workplace violence was committed by one employee towards another.
• Personality conflict is rated the #1 motivation for workplace violence

Reduce Costs Associated with Bad Hiring

• Bad hiring can create these problems for your business: lawsuits, theft, fraud, embezzlement, turnover, bad publicity & lost customers.
• Studies estimate that employee theft and dishonesty costs U.S. businesses between $60-120 billion per year.
• Employee theft costs employers $9 per day per employee.
• Employers are increasingly being sued for negligence and injuries resulting from workplace violence and could pay $5-6 million for settlements and verdicts.

Get the Right Person for the Job

• 40% of résumés contain material lies or omissions about education, past employment or qualifications.

Whether the venue is your business, your personal life or family let us provide you the information you need to make a sound decision. Gillespie Investigations can help you and your business prosper through professional and thorough background investigations, pre-employment screening and drug screening.

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Background Investigation Packages

Gillespie Investigations can customize background investigations to meet your specific needs and can include the following:

• Social Security Verification
• State and Federal District Court Criminal Searches
• County Criminal and Civil Court Searches
• Employment Verification
• Education Verification
• Driving Record
• Driver License Searches
• Consumer Credit Report
• Bankruptcy/Lien Reports
• Sex Offender Registry Searches
• Professional Certification/License Verification
• Asset Searches
• Property Deed Searches
• Marriage/Divorce Searches
• Drug Screenings
• …and more

• Social Security Number Verification
• Bankruptcy Filings
• County Court Criminal/Civil Records
• Federal Criminal/Civil Searches
• Tax Liens & Judgments
• Concealed Weapons Permits
• Driver License History
• Vehicle Registrations
• Real Property

• State Criminal History Data Base (Detailed Court Docket Information)

Call or contact Gillespie Investigations today.

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Drug Screening

Drug abuse has a major impact on workplace crime.  Employees who have a $1,000-$3,000 a month narcotic habit do not usually support that habit with “just” their paycheck.  General Motors, for example, has arrested over 500 employees for dealing drugs on the job!  Crime in the forms of stealing from co-workers, blackmail, ties to organized crime, and the violence associated with drug dealing all threaten a health and safety workplace environment wherever drug abusers are employed.  Further, the workplace often provides the perfect cover for buying and selling drugs.

In fact, drug-abuse treatment professionals state that a drug abuser's "JOB" is usually the one thing abusers will do ANYTHING to hold on to, for several reasons:

1. Denial -- employees convince themselves that people who "work" (like themselves) are not addicted.
2. Money -- employees need a consistent paycheck to help support their drug habits.
3. Opportunity -- employees are provided with, both chances to steal (from their employer and from fellow employees) and also to deal drugs that they would not have if they were unemployed.

IT'S A “GIVEN”: If you have drug users in your company, you probably have drug dealers in your company!

Employee drug-use was documented in a study which found that, of those employees seeking help on a “cocaine hotline”:

1.  64% admitted that drugs had adversely affected their job performance,
2.  44% said they had sold drugs to other employees,
3. 18% said they had stolen from co-workers to support their habits.
   

Why should ANY employer have to put up with this at a business that THEY OWN?

Another study by the U.S. government found that those who illicitly used drugs are:

1. 3.6 times more likely to injure themselves or another person in a workplace accident,
2. 5 times more likely to be injured in an accident off the job which, in turn, affects their attendance and/or performance on the job,
3. 5  times more likely to file a Workers' Compensation claim,
4. One-third less productive than non-drug using employees,
5. Incur 300% higher medical costs than non-drug using employees.

What are employees’ views about workplace drug testing?

A recent national Gallup survey of employees demonstrated an increasing intolerance among employees for drug abuse and drug abusers, and an acceptance of employers taking strong steps to provide drug-free workplaces.  The respondents said:

1. 28% of employees who were asked what they thought was the greatest problem facing the United States today answered “drugs.”  That response was given more than two-and-a-half times more frequently than the second most common answer.
2. 22% of employees whose companies have drug testing programs feel it is “not strong enough,” while only 2% think it is “too strong.”
3. 97+% of employees favor drug testing in the workplace at least under some circumstances.

Impact of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse affects all citizens in the form of higher taxes, higher insurance rates, more crime, higher health care costs, and higher consumer prices.  It also affects most of us as employees.  A major telecommunications company reports that 40% of its health care costs are attributable to substance abuse!

Does drug testing work?  YES!  As a result of advertised, high-profile drug-abuse prevention programs enacted at many companies, many drug users don’t even apply there (at companies that do drug testing).  Some of those who do apply will then stop using for fear of being caught, and some who are later “caught” will often undergo treatment and go straight.

There are numerous success stories in both the private and public sectors, but perhaps none as dramatic as the U.S. Navy’s:  a decrease since the 1980’s to under 4% (down from 28%) of its active personnel engaged in illicit drug use (i.e., found positive when tested).  This is specifically due to Navy’s implementation back in the 80’s of a comprehensive drug abuse prevention program - including monthly random drug testing of all active and reserve duty personnel- that continues even today.

Drug Detection

Employee drug testing is a major part of a drug-free work environment. In addition, employee drug testing can save a company thousands of dollars in sick days and worker's compensation claims and unemployment benefits as well as protect your workers. Post-hire employee testing is a good start for insuring a drug-free workplace.

The following chart gives approximate detection periods for each substance by test type. The ranges depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, and urine pH. For ease of use, the detection times of metabolites have been incorporated into each parent drug. For example, heroin and cocaine can only be detected for a few hours after use, but their metabolites can be detected for several days in urine. In this type of situation, we will report the (longer) detection times of the metabolites.

Drug Testing Packages

Call or contact Gillespie Investigations today.

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Video and Photographic Surveillance

“A picture is worth a thousand words!” You know that is a true statement!

“Busted on film—priceless!” Within the investigation world, nothing is more rewarding and satisfying than catching someone on film performing an illegal act or an act that you may suspect! Gillespie Investigations can provide photo and video surveillance services in virtually any investigative scenario utilizing state-of-the-art photo/video equipment. For example:

• Cheating Spouses
• Insurance Fraud
• Worker's Compensation
• Employee Theft
• Shoplifting
• Misconduct
• Theft
• Vandalism
• …and more!

If you require photo or video surveillance, Call or contact Gillespie Investigations for a quote.

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Video Surveillance Systems

Whether it is your business, home or property, Gillespie Investigations can design a video surveillance system to meet your needs and address your safety and security concerns.

Electronic Countermeasures (to prevent Corporate/Industrial Espionage)

Does it ever seem like your home or office is being “bugged”? Do you ever wonder if you are being watched by a hidden camera? Too often we see news stories of people's privacy invaded by hidden cameras and revealing video clips ending up on the internet available to the entire world! Technology has made it increasingly easy for virtually anyone to install and operate miniature cameras or listening devices. Whether the device is made and installed by an amateur or professional, to the untrained person these devices are nearly impossible to detect. Gillespie Investigations can help determine if an electronic eavesdropping device has been installed on your phone lines or in your home or office.

If you conduct sensitive meetings whether they are in your office or at an off-site meeting location, Gillespie Investigations can perform an electronic eavesdropping countermeasures survey to detect, neutralize and remove surveillance devices.

Call or contact Gillespie Investigations today.

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Workers' Compensation Investigations

Fraudulent workers' compensation claims costs American businesses and citizens billions each year. Employers, employees, insurance carriers and consumers pay the cost of fraud in lost jobs and profit, lower wages and benefits, and higher costs for services and premiums. A workers' compensation investigation can help ensure that each worker filing a claim is entitled to the compensation they receive.

Give Gillespie Investigations a call to discuss your case.

Insurance Investigations

Insurance Investigations are very common, as deception among claimants has cost companies billions of dollars every year. Gillespie Investigations helps insurance companies identify fraudulent activities.

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Asset Searches / Investigations

Asset investigations are useful in a variety of legal matters as they can help individuals and businesses recover lost, stolen or missing funds. They can be used to determine the financial worthiness/viability of parties to a lawsuit. When judgment has been rendered by the court, asset investigations can be used to help collect the damages.

Asset investigations can be critical in divorce cases. In many instances, parties to a divorce will attempt to hide assets to prevent them from being awarded in a judgment.

The type of information provided in an asset investigation starts with searches for real property and vehicles owned. It also includes inquiries into business affiliations such as fictitious business filings, corporate affiliations and limited partnerships. Another important area of inquiry is the Uniform Commercial Code index. This determines if the subject has listed business assets as collateral, if they have leases, and if there are pending judgments.

Allow us the opportunity to conduct an investigation to determine the exact financial condition of the parties you may be involved with or against.

Call or contact Gillespie Investigations today.

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Construction Site Theft and Vandalism

Construction sites and homebuilders are extremely vulnerable to theft and other types of criminal activity such as vandalism. Building materials, appliances, wiring, doors, fixtures, and tile are just a few items that are stolen every day across the nation. This rampant activity costs homeowners and contractors billions in insurance costs and repairs. According to the National Association of Home Builders, construction site theft is a national epidemic that costs the industry $5 billion a year. Unfortunately, the consumer (YOU) ends up paying because losses are added to the price of the home.

Through covert photographic/video surveillance and security surveys, Gillespie Investigations can help you avoid the cost, disruption and despair caused by this type of criminal activity. Give us a call and let us help you save time, money and headaches.

Call or contact Gillespie Investigations today.

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