Background checks are a crucial part of the hiring process for many employers. Bad hires can cost companies a lot of money, and if you are an employer, you want to make sure that you are only hiring the best candidates for your job.
A background check is a thorough investigation of an individual’s past that includes criminal records, public trust reports, employment history, education verification, reference checks, drug screening and more. It is a necessary step to ensure the safety of your employees and prevent theft or other crimes.
Keeping Your Workplace Safe
Employers need to make sure that everyone they hire is not violent and/or has a criminal history. Whether you’re a small, family-owned business or a large corporation, it is essential to do your due diligence and not hire someone with a violent past that could put your employees in harm’s way.
The most common reasons for a background check are to ensure that you are only hiring the most qualified and trustworthy individuals to be a part of your team. They can also help you to reduce potential theft, embezzlement and other financial crimes that can affect your bottom line.
Expunged Convictions
The first step in the background check process is to search a candidate’s criminal records and determine if any convictions have been expunged or sealed. If the convictions have been expunged, they should not appear on the report.
Expungement laws vary by state, so be sure to check out your local law before proceeding with the search.
Credit Information
A credit check is a basic background search that checks a person’s credit history, including past credit card accounts, bankruptcies, judgments, arrests and other records that have been reported to credit reporting agencies (CRA). In addition to the standard information, many of these searches can also look at recent credit activity.
Employment Credit and Payroll checks are commonly used to ensure that an applicant is authorized to work in the United States. These checks go back up to seven years and can be done online.
The scope of a background check is determined by many factors, including the type of position you’re hiring for and what sort of convictions the applicant has. You also must comply with federal, state and local laws.
Ban-the-Box Rules
Most states have “ban-the-box” laws that restrict what employers can ask about applicants’ criminal backgrounds on employment applications. These laws are designed to protect applicants from unfair discrimination based on their criminal record.
Getting a Better Candidate Experience
To make your hiring process easier for both you and the candidate, consider using a background check platform that makes it easy to start a background check and receive an accurate report in real-time. These solutions allow candidates to provide their consent through mobile-friendly workflows, and can be easily integrated into your ATS.
These background check platforms can also reduce your manual hiring processes and help you to keep up with the changing hiring trends. They can save you time and money, while providing a transparent candidate experience that can help you avoid employment discrimination.