Minor League Umps Agree to Background Checks

Major League Baseball Umpires should take a notice of their Minor League counterpart's recent negotiation concerning background checks. It is being reported in the Sporting News that the Minor League Umpires Union has agreed to allow background checks now that it clearly understands the parameters and scope of information being sought and how that information is being analyzed.

This is exactly how this should have played out with Major League Umpires. Instead, it appears that they are looking to use this issue as a bargaining chip. What could be more important than implementing a process that can help to ensure the integrity of the umpires and the game itself? Once the minor league umps understood how the process would work, they realized the need to submit to such checks. Thus far, the Major League umps have not relented.

How does this lesson apply to your average organizations? One, it is important to define the parameters of your screening program and to let your applicants/employees know what you are screening for and how the checks are being used. To a lesser extent, one can learn how the unions (in Major League Baseball's case) can take a no-brainer idea and make it an issue.