Skip to main content

The Importance of Background Checks

The Importance of Background Checks

By


Most businesses deal with sensitive information at some level. This may range from handling social security numbers, credit card information, drivers license information and other types of personal information. In order to assure clients and customers that their information is being handled properly, it is the duty of the business owner to take the necessary step in getting a thorough background check on all employees. Personal and professional references are still a good method, however, they should not be relied upon solely. It should be obvious that prospective employees will give names of those who will give a good reference; background checks pick up where references stop - they will give you accurate and in-depth information regarding the candidate.
Background checks are available to cover a wide variety of areas. Drivers license, character references, personal acquaintances, education records, criminal records, court records, credit records and much more. It is also important to note that much of this is public information. In addition, employers should understand that according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, some information cannot be used in conjunction with a background check. Bankruptcies after 10 years and many other types of consumer information that is older than 7 years may not be reported. Criminal background, credit reporting, worker's compensation claims and character references are just a few among a long list of types of background checks that are widely available. Employers should know the laws in their specific state regarding what information is available for their specific needs.
According to Paul Falcone, author of the book The Hiring and Firing, background checks serve many purposes: to enhance security in the workforce, to reduce turnover, to minimize the occurrence of employee theft and to leave you with the peace of mind that you have made the right decision in the hiring process. As a business owner, it is imperative to know who is working for you and what their background is. Employers should also include notice of the types of background checks performed, in their pre-employment literature. Most employers do not have the time, resources or authority to complete such thorough investigations. In order to gain this peace of mind, it is necessary to hire a background investigation firm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Workplace Violence...Are you and your staff protected??

Workplace Violence: It Can Happen Anywhere HUMAN RESOURCES ARTICLE 08/04/2016 Varying degrees of workplace violence can happen anywhere, and at any time. According to  OSHA , nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year, yet many more cases go unreported. While there’s no standard or regulation applicable to workplace violence, OSHA does have a  General Duty Clause  that it enforces, which states among other things that each employer “shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death of serious physical harm to his employees.” While workplace violence may happen anywhere at any time, it may also be instigated by anyone. Violent behaviors may come from a white-collar employee, a blue-collar worker, or a third party–such as customers or an employee's partner. What are some common factors or wa...
1 comment
Read more

An uptick in Hiring, Importance of Background Screening

An uptick in Hiring, Importance of Background Screening -KG April 9, 2015 Although some states have changed their laws around medical and recreational marijuana use, more than half of 3,119 HR professionals surveyed said their organizations do not accommodate marijuana use in the workplace or plan to do so in the next year. That is among the findings of HR 2015 Employee Background Screening Benchmark Report, conducted in October and November 2014 with HR professionals responsible for employment screening and recruiting. “This is going to be one of the hottest topics of the year in terms of background screening: drug screening,” said Rachel Trindade, vice president of marketing at HR, a provider of employment background checks, drug and health screenings, and Form I-9 employment verification. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized the possession of marijuana for medical use, and four states and the District of Columbia have legaliz...
Post a Comment
Read more
Monday, May 6, 2013 4 Reasons Why Small Businesses Need to Use Background Checks Many Small Business Owners think Background Checks are just for “the big boys”. Maybe it is because as a small business owner you mostly hire “people you know”, or you think that Background Checks are just “too expensive” for your Small Business. Neither of these arguments are true. Using Background Checks is actually a cost-effective and sound business strategy for any Small Business. Here are 4 Reasons Why Background Checks and Small Business make Great Partners: Small Businesses have a Limited Budget for Hiring and Training: Most Small Businesses operate on a tight budget. Your resources are split among the many costs associated with running your businesses - payroll, insurance, utilities, and more. Wasting any of your funds on hiring and training the wrong candidate is bad business. Using a Background Check as part of the hiring process can help eliminate some o...
Post a Comment
Read more