Uncovering the Truth: How Background Screening Services Can Prevent Hiring Mistakes

A bad hire can be expensive for a company. It can also damage company culture and hurt productivity.

The best way to avoid costly hiring mistakes is with a thorough background screening process. That includes searches for criminal records, motor vehicle record checks, and education verification. It’s also important to screen temporary workers, contractors, and interns.

Inaccurate Information

Misleading information may not be intentional, but it can still influence decisions and lead to costly mistakes. Inaccurate statements can result from dubious data sources, sloppy best practices, or human error. Whatever the cause, misinformation can devastate your business, especially if it causes you to miss out on top talent.

Some explain that when we encounter inaccurate information, it is easier for our brains to “download” these statements into memory and less likely that we will critically evaluate them. This encourages people to rely on and act on inaccurate information even when they should know better.

Professional background screening services can help you avoid these problems using the latest technology to ensure accurate and consistent results. This can save you time and resources by streamlining the process, ensuring compliance with regulations, and communicating status updates to candidates as they move through the hiring process.

Unintentional Discrimination

Unintentional discrimination is a serious issue that can impact your company’s bottom line. It occurs when a business practice or policy appears neutral but disproportionately negatively impacts a protected group of employees (e.g., a minimum height requirement that screens out women and minorities).

When evaluating candidates, it’s essential to treat all applicants equally. For example, don’t ask one candidate to provide pre-employment testing or proof of certifications but not another. Also, don’t ask questions about sensitive issues such as religion, political views, or childbirth.

A professional employee screening service can help you avoid this type of mistake. The right company has deep industry knowledge and can tailor a solution to your needs. They can ensure compliance and help your organization design a hiring process that meets legal requirements. They also cross-check information and verify a variety of sources to reduce errors. This approach enables you to make informed hiring decisions and prevents costly litigation.

Neglecting Post-Hire Monitoring

Background screening is effective for weeding out bad hires, creating safe and productive work environments, and preventing costly lawsuits. Unfortunately, it’s often surrounded by myths and misconceptions that hold companies back from using it to its full potential.

While performing background checks on new hires is integral to the hiring process, monitoring current employees with continuous background and driving safety checks is just as important. Failure to do so can lead to negligent retention lawsuits and expose businesses to reputational threats.

The leading background and identity screening services provider with innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding has achieved numerous industry awards and accolades, including being the first to market with a fully compliant sanctions search. They are dedicated to delivering a high-touch, personalized experience for their clients and partners while maintaining strict compliance standards.

Failing to Stay Abreast of New Legislation

Background screening is a powerful tool that helps employers make informed hiring decisions and create safe workplaces. However, like any process, it’s not without its pitfalls. When HR professionals work with a reputable background check company, these pitfalls are often eliminated.

Some background-checking companies may need to be more active in obtaining information, resulting in a lack of sensitivity and context that could lead to legal issues for the employer. For example, some companies might screen for criminal activity unrelated to the position being applied for or might exclude applicants who have had gaps in their employment due to various reasons, such as maternity leave and military service.

Other mistakes to avoid when using background checks are failing to obtain a candidate’s written permission or purging background checks too frequently, which could lead to costly litigation. Hiring unqualified employees drains resources and leads to increased turnover, so invest in a professional employment background check service to minimize these expensive mistakes.