Background Checks For your Employees

Posted by Reinecke Jesslyn on October 26th, 2009 filed in Productivity

Can you be absolutely sure that the individual applying for the job is the right person? Most employers just take this fact for granted. After all if someone says they are John Brown and they have a picture ID and credit card to back up this statement isn’t this enough? Sadly, the answer is, "No".

Identity theft is a major problem and there are many people who are now using identification and personal information other than their own. In some instances adults are even using some ID that may belong to their siblings, parents or children. You should not be paranoid of every person that comes into your office, but neither should you accept every letter on an application as being sowrn truth.

Just the record number of people reporting stolen identities this past year should be enough incentive for employers to change some of their older screening methods. A Human Resource director, or prospective employer, should begin asking for at least basic background checks to be done anyone who is being considered for an open position.

Not only do people attempt to use false identification, some of them will try to fabricate personal information hoping to avoid having their own troubled history exposed. There are some people who will apply for high level positions and then w lie about their qualifications. In some cases they will not even have a university, college degree or the necessary experience required for the position for which they are applying.

A growing number of companies are now providing background checks on demand to their clients.  The process is fast and simple and you will be able to verify as much information about an applicant as you need. Using the different types of personal verification checks an employer can begin to weed out any potential problems during the earliest stages of employee recruitment.

People have been known to list friends and relatives for all of the references. Unless you are going to be detailed about checking this out you will never know that the personal reference you received from Mr. Winn Bartlett, (president of County Land Financial Investors) was actually a letter from unemployed JimBob Biggletree, the applicant’s father. Background check services can even be extended so that all references can be verified to your satisfaction.

Most emplyers ask that aaplicants answer questions that are related to drug and alcohol use, and some questions may even ask about prior ciminal activity. There is a disclaimer that usually states that past problems will not necessarily bar anyone from being hired, but many people will avoid this question like the plague.

There have been occasions when employers are interviewing people who have papers from halfway homes and probation agents in their hands. Many of these individuals have been known to studiously ignore certain questions and leave them blank. Others choose to mark “no” to any, and all, potentially incriminating admissions. A background check will show an employer about any past criminal activities even if the applicant did not volunteer the information.

Drug use is such a major problem today that it is almost foolhardy not to check into the background of a potential employee that will be operating dangerous machinery or involved in some sensitive work environment where they need to be focused, sober and fast thinking. You are able to demand background screening before offering employment to any person. These screens can also be done at any time during the year to make sure that you are maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of your workers. Some companies will work with you to provide testing and drug prevention education for your employees on an ongoing basis.

One of the main factors about these background checks that is attracting the interest of employers is the low cost and speedy verification. Employers can select basic or comprehensive background checks that will verify a great deal of personal information. You can also request that checks be done to make sure that the applicant has no criminal record.
The name of the prospective employee can be cross referenced against national sexual predator registries and eviction databanks.

Credit can be checked at all 3 major credit reporting agencies and a company that specializes in performing these background checks can deliver a thorough report of all the information to the prospective employer in a very short period of time.

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