There are many reasons why we should have an employment background check performed on a candidate before we hire them. First, it protects both our company’s resources and our employees. After all, no one wants to hire an employee with a violent history. Second, it improves the quality of hire by ensuring the candidate provides accurate information. Third, it can help prevent future lawsuits. And finally, this type of background check can help prevent fraud and identity theft.
Benefits
While an employment background check is not always necessary, it benefits employers. For example, a criminal record check can alert an employer to potential liabilities, such as fraudulent identity cards or academic certificates. It can also help reduce liability costs because hiring someone with a history of misconduct or theft can lead to costly lawsuits or other legal issues. In addition to avoiding liability issues, background checks can reduce company insurance costs, as they prevent hiring bad employees who may be dangerous or irresponsible.
Another benefit of performing a background check is that it improves the quality of your applicants. For example, many applicants will not apply for a position without a criminal record. By implementing a background check, you will find candidates with clean records who can give you the best possible work environment. This process also ensures that insufficient applicants will not be considered. In addition, a background check can save time since applicants will not have to submit applications with inaccuracies.
Importance
The importance of conducting a pre-employment background check cannot be stressed enough. Using this tool will allow you to identify applicants suitable for your company and minimize the risk of a bad hire. Not only will this process allow you to ensure a safe work environment, but it will also help you avoid lawsuits for negligent hiring.
A criminal background check can reveal a range of negative information. This information can range from a felony conviction to a violent crime. Employers should remember that federal law does not prohibit them from asking about a candidate’s criminal history. However, employers are prohibited from discriminating against applicants based on this information. While a criminal record may disqualify some applicants, federal EEO rules do not allow employers to run a criminal background check on all applicants.
Cost
The cost of an employment background check can vary depending on the type of information that is requested. Some of these background checks can include more than just criminal history. Some can also include MVR records, drug testing, and credit history. Such details may require independent verification, which will increase the cost. If you are hiring for a senior or executive position, you will likely want to get the full report on your candidate. This way, you will know exactly what to expect before making an offer.
The costs of an employment background check will depend on what information you want and how much you need. For example, some will cover only a single state, while others will only cover specific types of information, such as criminal records. Additionally, other information points will add to the cost and time involved. Make sure you have enough information to determine how much you can afford. Once you’ve done your research, you can choose the exact price of your background check.
Scope
There are many reasons that employers may run a background check on an employee. Some positions require a person to have a clean record. Financial responsibility and financial literacy are essential, but the impact of a person’s credit history is debatable. Medical bills, unemployment, and student loans are some of the things that can affect a person’s credit. The recent COVID-19 pandemic, for example, led to a rise in unemployment rates.
Before running a background check, you must make sure that you understand what you’re looking for. Background checks can be tricky, and the scope of your search can vary greatly. To get the most out of a background check, you need to understand how it works and how it can help you find the information you’re looking for. Luckily, you can do a few things to make it as easy as possible.
Choose the Right One
Free employment background checks can help employers choose the right candidate. However, hiring the wrong person can be costly. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the cost of hiring a bad hire is up to 30% of the employee’s first-year earnings. For instance, a company could spend $60,000 to hire a mid-level manager but $18,000 if the employee isn’t up to par. Not only can hiring the wrong person affect the productivity of the entire team, but it can also cause morale issues.
