Employment Screening Service Help Desk
There’s a great deal of uncertainty in the business world today, and the hiring process is no exception. A candidate who looks perfect on paper and interviews well does not necessarily make an exceptional, or even adequate, employee.
Thorough background screening is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to ensure that you are making the best possible hiring decision. Employers who count on background checks during the hiring process say there are many good reasons for employee background screening. Here are the five most common.
- Combat Workplace Violance
Violence is a constant threat in the U.S. workplace. According to one recent study, each week one person is killed and 25 are seriously injured in assaults by current or former co-workers. The estimated national cost of workplace violence totals many billions of dollars. These costs include lost work time and wages, reduced productivity, medical costs, worker’s compensation payments as well as legal and security expenses.
Background checks not only keep dangerous individuals out of your company, they demonstrate a good-faith effort to provide a safe workplace.
- Reduce Legal Liability
With negligent hiring cases on the rise, employers need all the protection they can get from legal backlash. According to a recent newspaper report, employers lose 79 percent of all negligent hiring lawsuits. In such suits, the average jury plaintiff award is more than $1.6 million.
The costs of running an effective background screening program are small in comparison. Not only do background checks lead to a safer and more productive workplace, they also demonstrate a pattern of due diligence while offering protection from negligent hiring claims.
- Stop Employee Theft
Employee theft is a major problem that is on the rise in businesses across the country. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, employee theft costs U.S. employers nearly $40 billion each year. Worse yet, that cost is growing by 15 percent each year.
There are many systems and procedures that employers can use to protect themselves against the growing problem of employee theft. However, one of the best ways to prevent employee theft is to keep potential thieves off the payroll. An effective background screening program will reveal criminal histories, and the mere mention that you have a program sends the message that would-be thieves need not apply.
- Compliance with Federal, State and Local Laws
Sometimes employee background checks are required by law. Such checks may be required by Federal, State or local jurisdictions. For example, motor carriers regulated by the Department of Transportation must perform certain background checks on prospective commercial motor vehicle drivers. Background checks are often required for individuals who work in safety-sensitive positions such as truck driving. In addition, they are often mandatory for individuals working in the healthcare industry or those working with vulnerable populations, such as children or the elderly.
It’s important to be aware of your background screening requirements. If you have any questions about Federal, State or local laws impacting your company, please contact a competent background screening program administrator, such as Foley Carrier Services.
- Ensure Qualified Applicants
If you prefer not to make decision based on false or misleading information, then never hire prospective employees based solely on their resume and interview. Take the time to verify the facts or hire someone to run the proper background checks. You’ll discover that applicants lie at an astounding rate. The Society for Human Resources Managers recently reported that 53 percent of resumes contained inaccurate information, ranging from minor embellishments to outright fraud.
Use background screening to cut through applicant lies and find individuals with the skills, experience and ability to do the job. As a starting point, always verify resume information and check references.
