Who’s Hiring Santa Claus this Year?
OK, we’re putting the word out to help one of our community members–you can read her article in this week’s newsletter, actually… Linda Case.
Here’s her challenge and her request for help:
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Hello StartupNation. You guys were able to help me out once before and I am hoping you can help me again. I have been trying to research who it is that hires the Santas (and Santa’s helpers) at shopping malls - but I’ve not been able to nail it down. I would like to do a seasonal promotion of our nation-wide criminal background screening for these temporary workers who will have significant contact with small children while in their role. I have not been able to uncover who in the "retail" process is making these hiring decisions. You guys seem to know everyone..and perhaps you know someone out there who can put me on the right track?
Any assistance you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.
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Well, anyone out there have any tips???
October 11th, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Well in these trying times it’s sure good to know that people are interested in making money off of security. It just warms the heart to know that there are people interested in adding to the ever growing concept of lessening our freedoms and making this country more into some police state; not for safety’s sake, but for that pocket book.
How about security screenings for the Easter Bunny complete with Lie Detector tests and fingerprinting. You know I was starting to wonder if ‘Geoffrey the Giraffe’ at my local Toys R Us had been properly Screened. I started getting this feeling of impending doom when I would walk around the corner and there he was waving at me with that giant hand and glaring with those big suspicious eyes of his. I caught myself wondering just how safe the children were from this monster. Perhaps they should all have collars around their ankles too so we can track their whereabouts at all times. Wait even better yet we could implant Micro-Chips into them to make sure they can’t take them off. I could start a business making these micro chips… Oh wait, someone else already beat me to it. [link=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-5285815.html' target='']The VeriChip[/link]
Hey but while we’re on the subject perhaps I could start a clinic that specializes in implanting chips into children so that if they should get accosted by Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny or even some Evil Clown they will be safer because we will be able to see them as a blip on the monitor, kind of like a vehicle. But, you know; it’s for safety, not just so I could make a buck. After all it’s FDA approved.[link=http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Oct/1082567.htm' target='']FDA Approval[/link]
Ok then what’s the next step. How about The Pizza Delivery guy. I mean there’s a real threat. Then there’s the Guy who works at the Putt-Putt golf place, I’m sure they don’t get security clearance. Oh and don’t forget the Go-Kart operator. Oh My I almost forgot that it’s close to Halloween and there are all those Security risks with those Haunter Houses and Hay Rides and … We’re all doomed! What do we do about in improperly screened Frankenstein or a Wolf-Man? Can you imagine the real terror of Dracula without his Security Clearance!?
Well it’s good to know though that there are people out there who would like to make a business and make money out of watching out for others because that’s what this country and freedom is all about, "snooping on your neighbors and Trusting NO ONE!!" Or was that Germany at some point in the past. Wait no, Russia. Oh well what do we care if it’s freedom vs. money then Money it’s got to be!! :oD
October 11th, 2005 at 3:04 pm
By the way whats with all these "’" in my post?
October 11th, 2005 at 3:54 pm
Background Screening is a valuable tool that is regularly utilized by HR professionals and Property Managers and I am proud to be able to offer a service that offers protection to businesses, their customers and their employees. Relative to criminal background screening, consumers are protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. No reports can be run without the applicant’s consent. Additionally, the EEOC does not allow employers to automatically disqualify a candidate simply because they have a criminal history. There must be a sound business reason for disqualification based on prior offenses. For example, I believe there is a rational business reason why someone whith a history of violence or a sex offender should NOT be hired as "SANTA"!
How many people would meet a stranger on the street, spend about 20 - 30 minutes talking to them - and then hand them the keys to their house? No one. Likewise, it is important that companies don’t hand over the keys to their business - without doing some checking into the persons background.
I don’t consider "trust" a given. It is earned over time. I don’t think that makes me un-American.
Consumers and employees expect an employer to perform due-dilegence when hiring. This is especially true where an employee has access to children and the elderly - our most vulnerable citizens.
Respectfully,
Linda Case - Night Hawk Secuirty
October 12th, 2005 at 8:29 am
two things:
first, joseph, you get huge cudos for a great sense of humor. sorry about the technical glitches. we’ll look into that. while i totally disagree with your cynical take on a valuable service, i do agree that it’s a fine line… or, as one of my cohorts here at StartupNation said after reading your comment… "a slippery slope." you touched on something that’s a very delicate balance. cynicism aside, where’s the right path when it IS a crazy world and we DO have to be more careful today than when we were kids?
second, linda, last year when the fair came to our town, the local police identified one of the ride operators as a wanted child molester. too bad the fair organizer couldn’t have used your service before hiring that creep! maybe you should add that to your list of prospects… and, hopefully someone will provide some helpful leads to you on the "santa request."
October 12th, 2005 at 10:50 am
I’m happy to read people are looking out for our childern. With Amber Alerts and Screening, criminal beware!
October 13th, 2005 at 6:42 am
My husband is a Santa in Lansing - and believe me he is screened.
I don’t think any mall would hire someone off the street — Santa’s sign a contract and if they are hired by a photography company (as they all are) they are screened.
Get real…and think somemore about your marketing.
October 13th, 2005 at 10:11 am
[b]Thank you Katie[/b]! You’ve solved the mystery for me!
I expected that the Santa’s were screened - which is why I thought it would be a good market for me. I have a lot of confidence in my product and service and I am eager to market my company against any competitor out there. I’ll start marketing to those photography companies right away. Happy Holidays!
October 13th, 2005 at 1:06 pm
Very profesionally handled, Linda and Sloan Bro’s.
Joseph and all,. . . fine line indeed. As a parent, an aunt,a neighbor, a former preschool teacher, and a coach (who by the way have to be screened to become volunteers just as school volunteers and anyone hired in the county and city systems here in Florida’s Broward County), I believe that as silly as Santas and Easter Bunnies may seem to some, they’re professional relationship borders on the personal like a teacher or a counselor. That relative grey area (because we are talking about those who usually cannot or do not know how to communicate about certain issues) is vital to monitor in keeping the little ones safe from any kind of abuse.
What’s good about the US (at the risk of sounding imperialistic or elitist), in general, is that our system works OK and that we can choose wether or not we want to work here or there. Trust by handshake or word-of-honor is unfortunately not an option in these cases. Raising the bar when it comes to the safety of our kids or homes during the holidays, or at the toy store, or on the soccer field, or in the classroom, or from our petsitters, or in a place of worship is a standard expected from those who understand and appreciate that we should all try a little harder every day to raise the bar for ourselves as well.
A fine line indeed. I would certainly use such a valuable service for my business.
Vicky
October 16th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
My point wasn’t that we shouldn’t Have security or Screen people. My point is that the world of Security on this planet is growing Too fast and that what we don’t need is more people jumping on the security band-wagon.
I’m not going to go too much into this here because this is a business discussion Blog so I’ll save rants for other places.
There are countless examples of a world where our freedoms are being lessened every day for one reason or another.
Perhaps it is just my own belief that I would rather think of Santa as some old World War 2 Vet who loves children and has a stable family and many grand children of his own; kind of like my own grandparents.
It’s too bad that today we have Freak-Shows who want to spoil it for everyone, but on the other side of the coin it is also just as bad when people want to take advantage of these situations and lessen the Good Peoples Freedoms; AGAIN not because they actually care, but so that they can make Money!
I guess it’s precedent setting that bothers me even more. If you make it ok to screen Santa then why isn’t it ok to Screen the Pizza guy or the Janitor or the waiter or waitress who’s handling food and could put arsenic in it or the school children to see if they are likely to do Horrible things later in life (to see if medication should be administered). Bartenders mix drinks so just imagine the countless number of people some crazy bartender could poison. What if the lady who walks the dog is secretly an Animal hater or even Worse!!
How about Halloween? Perhaps a security squad should go door to door and screen those who wish to hand out candy to children. Oh and of course we could employ the children to keep careful watch on their neighbors and report suspicious activity. Wow what an Idea for a Non-profit organization! How about a group that screens what a person says or writes to make sure they aren’t thought criminals. Perhaps we should screen people to see if they have certain behavioral traits that could possibly later in life develop into something detrimental to themselves or others. Perhaps we should screen babies to see if they have certain brain patters consistent with criminal behavior.
I don’t know, in these crazy times I just would hate our society to get all caught up in all this current paranoia that the media and others seem to be spreading all over. It would be too bad if this Great country became some Orwellian nightmare just to make people Money.
November 18th, 2005 at 8:24 am
Yes we are screened! We do drug and alcohol tested and we have cbc (criminal background check) and child verification. Everything is performed, and if you want the job you accommodate the employer with what is needed. I have been Santa for 13 years now (only 43) I have a real beard some years miracle on 34th street length some years father christmas length, all in all I have my daughters whom I performed for but now they are all teenagers and are my elves as people still call like the scholls and all for pictures with Santa, but in this time I have gotten addicted to giving. I give from my own pocket I fill my toys sacks up and go to the poorest areas and give to children I know wont have a good holiday.
The gift from Santa is a treasured thing, I have other parents (middle class) who tell me I spent 1 to 2 thousand dollars on these kids on gifts and they sleep with the 5 dollar toy you gave them. I understand this as the kids look into my blue eyes, tug my beard and say wow your really him. I have an answer for every question. I recently had a young lady who waited for me all year,(as do most) but I was to give her her mother for Christmas she passed the februaur before. I had a glass ornament for a photo in which Grandmom (who was present) gave me a picture of the childs mother and I told her her mom is one of my Christmas angels now and cannot come back she is helping many kids and doing special work for Jesus and God. Here is a gift to you from me to hang upon your tree. I want you to do this every year So you know how special this is and how much help your mom is to us, as you get older you will know the meaning of guardian angels, as your mom is yours now. (Grand mom broke down and gave me one of the tightest hugs I ever had, thanking me repeativly.) The things a Santa has to deal with can be a very traumatic situation. So yes I believe in the screening especially since I seen the movie bad Santa(which rubbed me the wrong way)
Regards,
Santa Claus (Frankie)
free kids site at http://www.santaswebworld.com my home page.
December 6th, 2005 at 4:35 pm
Couple of things you might consider prior to going into the "Check Out ST NIck{" business.
1. Unless you are a member of a bona fide law enforcement agency, your check will only be a quick recap of available public records.
2. Santa primarily interacts with children in a public place in the company of their parents.
3. The majority of Retail establishments view Santa as strictly a promotion and are interested in keeping costs down.
4. The Picture withl Santa crowd would dress up Attila the Hun if he looked good and could get 40 kids per hour on and off his lap. REmember they are out to make money and Santa has little if any time to talk to the kids.
These observations are based on 38 years in Law Enforcement and 8 years as a professional Santa.
In all those years I never had nor heard of any child molestation complaints regarding a department store santa.