After working one year at Sunshine Linen in Columbia, Mo., Carlos Simms was promoted from his job as a laborer to an assistant plant manager. Many employers would point to him as a good role model. He was responsible, loyal, always completed his assignments on time and other than taking two sick days off due to a car accident, he never missed a day of work in the 18 months he has been employed. 
 
Employees like Simms are getting harder to find these days. Yet, despite the escalating shortage of quality workers across the country, many employers ...