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Testing integrity

Integrity testing has become the new age thing for companies recruiting potential employees. Although it has been in use for over three decades in other parts of the world, in South Africa the demand for integrity employee testing has only started growing in recent years.

Now one needs to take into account what actually happens when such a test is being performed. Firstly, integrity tests in the past used self-report paper and pencil formats and these did not prove to be effective. Today’s tests include at least one measurement of psycho-physiological parameter like voice analysis, to ensure higher reliability. They come in two forms: an overt integrity test is designed to find ‘undesirable’ traits in a person’s behaviour, past crimes, and dishonesty. Personality-oriented tests include items that assess personality characteristics that have been shown to relate to counterproductive work behaviour. The test items assess dependability, social conformity, thrill seeking, and conscientiousness, in order to sort out potential candidates.

As an employer, you would ask how such a test is of benefit to your business. Well, the answer is simple, integrity tests are designed to assess honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, and reliability. Therefore, integrity tests foresee counterproductive work behaviour in employees and also help employers make rational decisions when employing someone.

Employers should consider integrity testing as an integrated strategy as it has more chance of identifying a dishonest employee, and this can be done through pre-employment screening from employers. The best benefit of an integrity test is that it will measure the suitability of a candidate for a position, and they are also more reasonably priced than a polygraph test, thus ensuring the company saves more money and time during recruitment processes.

Integrity testing also creates a positive experience for potential employees. Knowing that their integrity is being tested and validated brings about greater consciousness of expected values and behaviours. It creates a platform for transparency, accountability and fairness within a company.

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