Onboarding steps are to be entered into the USA Staffing database but the GAO found issues with records that were “incomplete, inaccurate, and not timely.” Image: Daniel J. Macy/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe GAO has called on the VA to better document whether it has completed required onboarding steps for newly clinical employees such as verifying their professional credentials and running fingerprint checks.
A report said that due to the required surge of hiring into such positions due to the pandemic, the VA “developed an expedited onboarding process that modified or deferred certain key onboarding tasks.” For example, new hires were permitted to begin work without a full credentials check if a temporary check was completed and both drug testing and fingerprinting could be delayed under certain circumstances—the latter of which resulted in delaying another requirement, for background investigations.
“However, there are inherent risks in bringing staff on-board that have not been fully vetted,” it said, including that they “may gain access to sensitive information and controlled substances.”
Onboarding steps are to be entered into the USA Staffing database but the GAO found issues with records that were “incomplete, inaccurate, and not timely.”
It said the VA agreed with recommendations that it require the use of USA Staffing to monitor onboarding tasks, and that it issue clear guidance for entering USA Staffing data.
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