Lyft Outsources Their Background Checks to Third Party Firms. It May Be Cheaper, but Is it Safe?

 Posted on June 10, 2019 in Personal Injury

Thousands of companies rely on third-party vendors to ensure that they are hiring safe individuals with no criminal history. The dominant firm in this industry, Sterling Talent Solutions, employs people across the globe to perform background checks using its own software.

According to Buzzfeed News, much of the work involves international, low-paid employees sorting through records, despite the emphasis on technology. Offshore workers contend that the working conditions have “led to manual errors, problems with technology, and even panic attacks and injuries from the stress and repetitive nature of the work.” Additionally, workers contend that records databases can be incomplete, and they do not always have enough information to determine whether a job applicant has been convicted of a crime.

Nearly 200 lawsuits have accused Sterling of various failures with their background check procedures. These include instances where violent criminals go unnoticed by Sterling’s background checks and go on to harm others through their newly attained employment.

One example of the consequences of Sterling’s inadequate vetting procedures occurred in Chicago. A Lyft driver with convictions for theft and unlawful possession of weapons slipped through the cracks of Sterling’s system and sexually assaulted a young woman at knifepoint. The woman had ordered a ride through the Lyft app assuming that she would be transported safely home. 

An attorney who has litigated claims against Sterling stated that there is not a lot of financial incentive to ensure accuracy in the background check process, because Sterling is able to make up for inaccuracy with higher volume. This quantity over quality approach has put employees under extreme pressure to meet deadlines. Sterling employees confirmed that workers weren’t allowed to leave or take breaks when the queue of calls remained high. “With a human-involved process there is definitely a possibility of failure,” said Zahara Fernandes, a former vice president of Sterling in Mumbai.

Consumers are threatened when companies cut corners in their screening procedures. Outsourcing background checks to companies like Sterling has resulted in innocent customers coming face to face with convicted criminals. Meanwhile, Sterling continues to grow and add more companies to its network. 

If you have been injured by an Uber or Lyft driver who should not have passed a background check, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC can help you determine your options for pursuing compensation. Contact our Chicago rideshare injury attorneys today at 312-605-8800 to schedule a free consultation. 

Source:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/rosalindadams/lyft-sterling-background-checks