The Importance of Pre Employment Background Screening
Whether you are a new entrepreneur searching for your first employee or a small business owner staffing up for the busiest time of the year, your hiring process matters more than you know. The men and women you hire are there to do a job, but they are also the face of your company. The quality of those hires could mean the difference between a thriving business and a failing one. Performing a pre employment background screening of your potential employees can save you a lot of time, money and grief in the employee hiring process.
In extreme cases, hiring the wrong person could even land your company in legal trouble. As the owner of the business, you could be held legally liable for the actions of your employees, and that is why conducting a pre employment background check on every applicant is so essential. Here are three things you need to know about the pre-employment screening process. Make sure to note that not all background check services are the same. If you’re an employer and need to screen potential employees then you will need to use an FCRA compliant service, such as Good Hire. These are the only employee background check services that will match up social security numbers to your potential employees and give you certified information based on that parameter. You will also be able to see their credit history with an FCRA certified employee background screening service.
Background Screening is an Essential Part of the Hiring Process
No matter what the size of your business, background screening should be an integral part of the hiring process. Background screening is essential, and you should not treat it as a mere afterthought.
As the business owner, you should conduct an extensive background check on anyone you are considering hiring. You do not necessarily need to screen every applicant or conduct a background check on everyone who sends you a resume, but pre-employment screening of the finalists can protect your business and its interests.
Pre Employment Screening Can Uncover Inconsistencies and Untruths
It may be unfortunate, but many job applicants lie on their resumes and during their employment interviews. The applicant may tell you they have a master’s degree, but how do you know if they are telling the truth?
By conducting a pre-employment background check, employers can uncover those lies and inconsistencies. From wrong dates to outright lies, a proper background check can ferret out the information you need to know so that you can make a sound hiring decision.
Pre Employment Background Check Can Enhance Workplace Safety
The rash of shootings and other workplace violence is enough to give any business owner pause. When you own a business, you have a great deal of responsibility, not only to your customers but your workers as well. Keeping those employees and customers safe is your number one responsibility, one that pre employment background screening can help you meet.
When you conduct a pre employment background screening on every potential new hire, you can weed out those with criminal records and anyone else who could pose a risk to the rest of your workforce, or to the customers who walk through your doors.
Any good pre-employment background check will uncover past criminal convictions, so you can make an informed decision about those you plan to hire. If you are willing to give an ex-convict a break, you are free to make that choice, but at least you will know where you stand.
If you are not conducting a thorough pre employment background check on your new hires, you could be putting your customers and your business at risk. No matter what type of business you own or how many people you plan to hire, a pre employment background screening can give you peace of mind while helping you build a better and more stable team. Being in the know about who you invite into your business and associate with your brand, your infrastructure, your proprietary information, your customers and other employees is invaluable to just about every employer.
