An employment background check is a critical and complex process in every sense. Here is a guide to understanding what it involves. Read on!
Employment Background Check
An employment background check is a process that verifies the entire employment history of an employee before they are hired by a company. This includes verifying information such as educational qualifications, criminal records, address, employment history, etc. We will learn more about employment background check processes in this article.
What is an employment background check?
An employment background check helps in verifying the authenticity of the information provided by the employee to the company. This helps the organization make an informed decision and avoid making bad hiring mistakes. The employment background check must be compliant with the state laws.
Also Read: Employee management | A complete guide
Why companies perform background checks for employment?
Companies perform background check for employment to avoid hiring someone who can pose a threat or become a liability to the employer. Employment background check processes verify claims from job seekers to help employers make an informed decision and stay protected from potential risks.
Background check employment highlights the criminal history
Background check for employment helps in highlighting the criminal history of an employee. A criminal background check may look through federal and state criminal records, sex offender registries, etc. An employment background check is done to find the nature and intensity of the crime if any.
Employer background check avoids liability
An employment background check helps employers to avoid hiring someone who can become a liability to them later. A thorough background check for employment is critical to safeguard yourself and your existing employees. Employers are able to find crucial information about a candidate’s work history through an employee background check.
Pre-employment background check reduces losses
An employment background check is known to reduce the losses incurred due to employee dishonesty. Employers can run a background check for employment to learn about employee’s history and if there were any issues related to theft, drug abuse, violence, etc. This helps in avoiding liability.
Employment checking ensures workplace safety
Employers have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their employees, customers, vendors, and clients. The employment background check helps in understanding more about the employee you are considering hiring. Employers must not hire anyone without a background check for employment to avoid mishappenings at the workplace.
Companies background checks avoid negative publicity
The company can be severely affected by the publicity due to the errant behavior of an employee. A proper employment background check is a must before making any hiring decisions. The background check for employment makes employers take an informed decision regarding the interested candidates.
Employee checking helps in avoiding bad hires
A thorough background check for employment can reduce the probability of a bad hire. The replacement cost of a bad hire is 5 times the salary offered. An employer can determine the eligibility of an employee for the job by running an employment background check.
The associate background screening system maximizes productivity
An employment background check ensures you are hiring someone who is fit for the job. Making good hiring decisions directly affects the overall productivity of the organization. Hence, background check for employment enables employers to build a competent workforce who are qualified for the role.
Background check employment history reduces theft risk
A lot of organizations reportedly suffer losses due to occupational fraud that makes employment background check crucial. Background check for employment helps in verifying the freely volunteered information provided by employees. Theft risk can be reduced majorly by using the information provided through employee checks.
Work background verify employee’s qualifications
Employment background check activities are performed to verify a potential candidate’s educational and employment information provided by them. The background check for employment filters out dishonest employees in the screening process. Pre-employment screening determines the eligibility and capability of an employee for a certain role.
Employees check are useful for data verification
Employees provide data about themselves during the hiring process. Employment background check activities are performed to verify that data and highlight any discrepancies. This background check for employment results in quality hire, a safer workplace, liability reduction, increase in applicant number, decreased insurance cost, etc.
Also Read: Grapevine Communication | Critical items that you must know!
Steps involved in the employee background check
An employment background check includes multiple stages to ensure a thorough verification is happening. The results help in making the right hiring decisions. Let us go through the different steps required to conduct an effective employee background check before you hire a new employee,
Step 1 – Inform the individual about the background check for the job
The first step is to ask permission from the individual to run an employment background check against him. Under no circumstances should an employee background check take place without the candidate’s approval. Take a written consent from the employee in question.
Step 2 – Have a flow chart in mind for employment check steps
Have a consistent policy for running an employment background check and responsible authorities must be made clear about the different steps involved for an employee background check. The best way is to document employee verification check steps in the form of a flow chart.
Step 3 – Go for FCRA compliant employment background checks
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a regulatory body that defines what can and cannot be part of the employment background check. All employee background checks are governed by the FCRA which makes it mandatory to follow all their rules and regulations.
Step 4 – Look into employment criminal background checks
Employee criminal background checks are fairly common while conducting employment verification checks. To avoid liability and maintain a safe workplace environment, an employment background check verifies the criminal history of an employee if any. The employee background check should be in compliance with state and federal laws.
Step 5 – Hire a company to run background checks for employment
If your company doesn’t have the time or resources to conduct an employment background check by itself, consider taking services from a third party that specializes in performing work background checks. Hire reliable companies for conducting an employee background check for you.
Step 6 – Call former employers as part of pre-employment background checks
Calling former employers of a candidate as part of an employee background check can help you get a lot of information regarding the candidate. This information will help you to make decisions that are in favor of both the organization and staff members.
Step 7 – Verify education as part of job background check
Academics is one of the areas which is prone to exaggeration and manipulation. Hence, verifying the academic information provided by the candidate is an important step as of employee background check. A prospective employer can start their employment background check from this reference point.
Step 8 – Check credit report during employee checks
An Employment background check may also consist of checking credit reports in some cases. For example, while hiring for a finance position the employee should display a good credit score. An employee background check can help you unearth such information and help in making good hiring decisions.
Step 9 – Browse online sites during employee background checks
During an employee background check, try to run a simple online search for the candidate on different social media sites. You would be surprised to see the amount of information popping up which would help you in taking the right decision.
Step 10 – Verify address history during a company background check
Verifying address history as part of employee background check steps helps in tracing the previous establishments of an employee. The address check during an employment background check makes it easier for employers to verify the employee’s true identity and get to know them better.
Also Read: Millennials in the workplace | A how-to guide for everyone
Key items included in a pre-employment screening
While planning an employment background check, the employers and supervisors should be aware of what to include and what not to include in pre-employment screening. We will discuss the key items that must be included as part of the employment background investigations.
1. Work background checks to verify educational qualifications
Pre-employment screening must include verification of information provided by the candidate regarding educational qualifications. If there are any discrepancies found during the employment background check, the candidate must be given a chance to provide clarification. FCRA handles all employment screening process activities involving academics.
2. Pre-employment screening for drugs
Pre-employment screening for drugs is often a mandatory step for the roles involving the handling of heavy machinery or toxic materials. The employment background check must carry out this process strictly in compliance with the state laws as they vary from one state to another.
3. Driving records for work background check
Pre-employment screening includes checking for driving records for certain roles that involve using a vehicle. You can get these records easily from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The employment background check can go through the accidents, suspensions, and convictions that may have been recorded.
4. Employee criminal background checks
Criminal background checks are done as part of an employment background check to identify if the candidate has a criminal record. Pre-employment screening performs these checks to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits. Pre-employment criminal background checks must be done after getting written consent from the employee.
5. Reference checks during employee background investigations
Pre-employment screening can run a reference check by getting in touch with the former employers of the candidate and asking questions. This is a very common practice in employment background check processes and helps in deriving a good or bad impression of an employee.
6. New hire background check to assess character
Pre-employment screening includes several activities to assess the character of a candidate. This assessment helps employers in making an informed decision based on the findings. Employment background check looks for social media presence, criminal records, credit scores, driving records, etc to judge a candidate’s character.
7. Pre-employment background check for identity verification
Pre-employment screening activities are carried out to verify the candidate’s identity by looking into their educational records, address proofs, etc. Professional license records are also verified as part of an employment background check to ensure they have the required skills to perform the desired task.
8. Sex offender registry screening as part of work check
The pre-employment screening process is used to identify if an employee has any records registered as a sex offender. Both state and federal sex offender list is provided to the employers in order to protect the existing staff members and safeguard the company’s reputation.
9. Social media background checks for employees
Many people have their presence on social media sites. This can prove to be advantageous in getting a high-level sense of potential employees. It is not a great pre-employment screening method but it can be important while hiring social media manager or community manager role.
10. Employment background history
Pre-employment screening goes through different information related to the candidate’s previous employment such as the reason for leaving, job title, date of resignation, duration of work, etc. Any discrepancies found during the employment background check can be clarified with the candidate before the organization goes ahead with the hiring process.
Also Read: Employee Morale | An ultimate read for best results
Best practices in background check for employers
Background check for employers is conducted to safeguard businesses, employers, and customers. The entire employment background check must be carried in compliance with FCRA rules and regulations. Let us look into the top ten best practices to follow while conducting employment background checks,
1. Ask consent for a background check after employment
Employment background check activities must be carried out only after you get written consent from the employee. Employers should make the employee aware of the different screens to be run. The best time to run a background check for employers is after the first round of interviews.
2. A job background check should be based on job roles
A fair background check for employers’ policy is based on the kind of job role offered. For example, the driving records are only essential in case the job role demands candidate to drive frequently. Pre-employment checks must treat everyone equally.
3. Criminal background check for employment
Background check for employers consists of identifying if there are any criminal records against the candidate. These employment verification background check activities are carried out to avoid any liability and safeguard the workplace. Knowing this information helps employers in making the right hiring decisions.
4. Don’t set and forget the post-employment background check
Do not hire a third party to perform the hiring background checks and forget about it. To get accurate and efficient results, it is important to audit the process regularly. Ensure that the background check for employers is running properly.
5. Government job background check
Mostly all employment background check activities carried out for government jobs involve criminal record checks and social security number verification. Government employees are expected to show high levels of ethical behavior and responsibilities. Running a background check for employers helps in assessing their eligibility for the role.
6. Embrace compliance for pre-employment background screening
Companies must embrace a fair and compliant background check for employers’ processes. It might seem to be a daunting process but hiring companies who specialize in employment background screening will make your work easier. Employment laws ensure the safety of both employers and employees.
7. Look out for innovative HR background check ideas
Do not shy away from fresh and innovative ideas to further improve the background check for employers process. New ideas can help in a much faster and thorough investigation process which would be beneficial for both employers, and employees.
8. Verifying employment history
The employment background check helps employers to verify the work history of the candidate through different means. Before hiring a candidate, ensure that the information provided by them is correct. Background check for employers consists of several activities that confirm that the provided employment information is correct.
9. Federal employment background check
The federal employment background check does not apply to job roles related to the federal department. It involves routine investigation along with some additional verification to ensure if the candidate can be relied upon to be provided with confidential information. Criminal tests and drug tests are a crucial part.
10. Keep employment verification checks consistent
Keep the background check for employers simple and consistent for each hiring by maintaining investigation records. Making different rules for different candidates can lead to mistakes and discrepancies. It is best to make your own rules regarding employment background check to get good results.
Leave a Reply