Why are background checks important?

It’s important that employers maintain standards when making hiring decisions to keep their workplace safer while ensuring the quality of employee matches their requirements. If an applicant has anything to hide, they will most likely not want to apply to a position that requires a background check. When implementing employment screening procedures, such as a background check, employers will most likely see an improvement in the quality of the applicants that apply.

Background screens (or checks) are a way for employers to verify information about an applicant and/or current employee, getting a comprehensive understanding of who they are to ensure they make a safe hire. For many employers, a background screen is usually conducted as a simple pre-employment process, but depending on the industry and position they can become quite complex. Background screens can typically include employment/education verification, driving records, credit reports, or even social media in some cases. When combining products to create a custom program, employers can better maintain compliance and meet industry standards.

Employers can look for a variety of things in a background check including but not limited to education/employment verification, SSN/i9 checks, or prior federal, state, or county convictions. Although employers can customize their background check policies, depending on the industry or state laws, they have to abide by certain practices to maintain compliance.