Why do background screening

With each new hire, companies invest time, training, money and resources. When recruiting new employees, companies need additional information to help them verify they are making informed hiring decisions. Every company has its own approach, preferences and requirements for conducting background checks. However, employers in all areas are looking for the most comprehensive picture of their candidates. Deciding which type of background screening check an employer needs to run to find the best candidate can often seem like a daunting task.

There are many components to background checks, but the fundamentals include criminal records checks, employment verifications, education and credential verifications and reference checks.

Each type of check has specific practical considerations and compliance matters that must be followed. It is crucial to understand the various rules covering Canadian privacy, human rights and consumer reporting laws. Employers need to have a written policy that is vetted by legal counsel and followed consistently throughout the candidate hiring process.

According to HR. Resume lies include exaggerated job titles and responsibilities, falsification of education credentials, inflated salaries, misrepresentation of dates and employment and falsifications stating candidates are eligible to work in a particular country.

If an employer got a background report without permission or rejected an applicant without sending the required notices, the employee may contact the FTC by visiting their website.

Employers need to ask for the applicant's consent before running a background check. Any information that is received should never be used to discriminate, in violation of federal law. Before running a background check, an employer should research what information will be available, as the information they are allowed to look at varies from state to state. The EEOC requires employers to make sure they are treating everyone equally. Employers should never make a hiring decision based on a person's race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or any other genetic information.

Additionally, the FTC says that if an employer gets someone's background information, such as credit or criminal history, there are additional procedures the FCRA requires beforehand:. Depending on how much information is being requested, a background check can take longer to process. In most cases, it takes anywhere from three days to one week, while others can be processed instantly. The best way to get a background check is to request it from an FCRA compliant employment screening company such as our partner, Verified First.

Keep in mind that no good screening company will release a report for free. Free background checks are usually incomplete or inaccurate. When it comes down to it, employers should always be thorough during the pre-employment screening process, and background checks make that possible.

By conducting background checks, you can nurture a positive work environment staffed by qualified employees. Screen candidates who currently live abroad or who have previous experience outside of the US. Employers conduct background checks to make informed decisions about candidates and increase their odds of hiring a qualified employee. Background checks can help verify or offer additional information about employees related to their previous jobs, education, driving history, drug use, criminal history and more.

Various industries also have specific requirements for background checks that employers must comply with, in addition to federal and state laws. By conducting background checks, employers minimize risks that could lead to liability claims based on the actions of employees who were not properly vetted when hired. GoodHire offers more than pre-employment screening and background checks, making it your one-stop resource for all of your background check needs.

Some of the broad categories of background checks offered include: employment verification, education verification, identity verification, professional reference checks, driving record checks, criminal records, credit checks, drug screening, civil court checks, healthcare sanctions checks and international background checks.

With so many types of background checks to choose from, we understand that it may feel overwhelming. We offer maximum flexibility and an opportunity to customize packages to meet your specific background check needs.

Then searches are conducted using a variety of public databases and court records depending on the type of information sought. In addition to database checks, some searches will require specialists to manually contact employers and other organizations, such as educational institutions. It uses a user-friendly digital and mobile-optimized process that includes candidate consent, ongoing updates and easy access to information for both employers and candidates.

With GoodHire, both employers HR teams, hiring managers, recruiters and candidates receive status updates and full copies of results. A user-friendly dashboard makes it easy to review and understand results so employers and hiring managers can make informed decisions.

Candidates also have the ability to dispute any inaccurate information and to append additional information to the results to provide context or explanation. Because of the wide range of different types of background checks, the amount of time required varies , but is generally anywhere from a few minutes to as many as five days.

When information can be attained digitally, the process can be very short. But, if manual searches are required, or if other organizations need to be consulted, the process can take longer. The FCRA requires employers to receive permission from candidates to conduct a background check, in writing. The FCRA also has requirements related to adverse action rules employers must follow if the background check reveals information that may negatively impact the hiring decision.

EEOC guidance seeks to prevent employers from conducting background checks in a manner that could deny equal opportunity to job applicants in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, based on protected categories such as age, race, color, national origin, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, as the Supreme Court recently ruled , religion, and disability.

Ban-the-box laws emerged in Hawaii was the first state to pass a law prohibiting the practice of employers asking job applicants about their criminal histories until after a conditional offer is made. Since then, a number of other states have followed, with a focus on removing barriers that make it difficult for people with criminal records to get jobs. GoodHire eases the burden of compliance by automating many compliance workflows, saving you time and giving you confidence that nothing will be missed.

Background check service accreditation means an organization has met strict guidelines and professional standards for compliance and interactions with employers, candidates and others.

To be accredited by PBSA, GoodHire must meet rigorous accreditation standards, comply with current regulations and laws about background checks, and submit to regular auditing of our practices and procedures. Yes, GoodHire background checks can be used for international employees, as long as they currently reside in one of these countries.

It is important for companies to conduct international background checks when considering candidates who have lived, studied or worked in another country. International background checks work similarly to other background checks, but the databases used are foreign databases containing information not available in the US, and typically require additional, specific documentation.

These background checks help employers obtain information they might have been unaware of, or that might have been difficult for them to attain on their own. There are many kinds of background checks, from background checks for employment to background checks for purchasing firearms, and fingerprint checks.

There are several different types of background checks used for different situations. To help you understand each type and what is in a background check, this article will look at the 10 most common types of background checks and what they each consist of:. A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that a person is who they claim to be. GoodHire is an accredited professional background screener and FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency CRA offering background checks for employment—we may not provide all types of background checks listed here.

Employers run background checks to avoid hiring someone who may pose a threat to the workplace or become a liability to the employer. An employment background check typically takes place when someone applies for a job, but can also happen at any time the employer deems necessary.

For example, an employer may require annual or semi-annual employment drug testing or criminal background checks for their employees to help create a safe and secure workplace. Typically, an employment background check includes information and records from the past seven years, although some states allow up to 10 years. Learn more about how far back background checks go in your state. If the position is specialized, applicants and employees may undergo further screenings.

Further, the Fair Credit Reporting Act FCRA requires employers to comply with certain regulations to ensure that the background check process is done fairly. For example, employers must get written permission from applicants and employees and let them know how they might use information found in decisions about their employment.

With this advance notice, the candidate has a chance to review the report for errors as well as explain negative information, such as gaps in their employment history, convictions, and criminal offenses.

Employers typically outsource employment background checks to a third-party company that has access to the necessary databases, including police records, civil court records, credit reports, and more.

The cost of an employment background check can depend on what the employer wants to include for review. Many employment screening vendors, including GoodHire, offer discount pricing for bulk orders. A criminal background check is often required in situations where a person or organization needs to know about major criminal activity, including violent or sex crimes, fraud, embezzlement, or felony convictions before making a decision regarding employment, adoption, military enlistment, a firearm purchase, and more.

Depending on the industry, such as healthcare, there may be regulations against hiring certain felons if their conviction is relevant to the job. However, for the formerly incarcerated, a criminal record is a barrier to reentering the workforce, making it much more difficult for ex-felons to rehabilitate into society. In an effort to increase employment opportunities and decrease recidivism rates , the federal government offers incentives to employers for hiring convicted felons through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program.