'Davy factor' increases checks

By IRENE CHAPPLE

Trickle-down effects from the so-called "John Davy factor" are starting to show, with more than a fifth of New Zealand managers now checking potential employee references more thoroughly.

The increased caution, indicated in a survey by Robert Half Finance and Accounting, is attributed to overseas accounting scandals and publicity about Davy, the former Maori Television Service chief executive who was jailed after his curriculum vitae was found to be largely false.

The nine-country survey of 1550 managers asked whether they were more stringent with checking candidates.

In New Zealand, 21 per cent said they were since the scandals were aired just over a year ago.

A further 64 per cent said they checked as thoroughly.

More than 80 per cent of New Zealand managers use reference checks to assess candidates, far above the global average of 36.3 per cent.