Here’s a helpful list of things to think about:
- Workplace Theft – Every year, workplace theft costs U.S. companies a whopping $50 billion. Small businesses are hit hardest, making up 68% of these losses.
- Negligent Hiring Lawsuits – Making sure you do a thorough background check with a good company can protect you from lawsuits related to negligent hiring. These lawsuits can be really expensive for big companies and could even sink smaller ones financially.
- False Identities – Believe it or not, 75% of HR managers have caught job applicants lying on their resumes. Not knowing who you’re hiring or their real background is risky. People who hide their criminal past, use fake social security numbers, or lie about their previous jobs or education can be dangerous hires.
- Workplace Violence – Checking new hires carefully can help prevent workplace violence, including things like harassment, bullying, and threats. Hiring someone with a history of violence could put your whole team at risk.
- Temporary Workers – It’s important to screen all kinds of workers, not just full-timers. Contract employees, freelancers, and temporary workers should all go through the same screening process. Skipping this step could leave your company vulnerable to all sorts of criminal activity.
Ensuring a safe workplace is important, especially nowadays. It all begins with screening job applicants before they’re hired. But watch out for those offers that promise “instant” or “free” background checks—they often don’t give you the full picture, leaving you legally vulnerable. Even if you think you’re getting a good background check, relying on these quick offers might mean you end up hiring someone with a criminal record or a history of violence, or you might bring on temporary workers without knowing much about them.
Online background check companies that claim to be fast and cheap usually miss important details or get things wrong. Without proper training, it’s hard to spot mistakes or missing info on an employee’s application. That’s where a reputable background check company comes in. They’ll make sure you only see information that’s legally allowed under the law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), so you can make smart hiring decisions.
A good background check company should be able to answer questions like: Why did a felony show up in one search but not another? Which areas are not so good at updating their criminal records? And do you need to run more searches or is that overkill? They can also help with questions you might be asked, like: How far back should background checks go? Can I check my own background? What’s the best place to do background checks?
With the right help from your background screening partner, you’ll be ready to tackle any questions from legal or HR folks. But remember, just getting the info to the hiring team is only part of the job—the other part is making sure they get complete and accurate results so they can make the best decision.
When it comes to hiring, don’t sacrifice safety for convenience or a few bucks. It’s just not worth the risk. Investing in a solid background check from an experienced vendor is a smart move, especially when you consider how much a bad hire can cost you in the long run.
When your business seeks support in various crucial aspects like employment screening, criminal background checks, adherence to FCRA regulations, drug screening, verification of education and employment history, examination of driving records (MVR), credit assessments, or validation of social security numbers, reach out to the Swailes Background Team for prompt enrollment and comprehensive assistance.