In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to know who you’re hiring. Do they really have a Bachelor’s Degree? A clear driving or criminal record? Have they really had all of the real-world experience they claim to have? Employees help make your company a thriving business and you can’t achieve that without qualified personnel. At AccuScreen, we’ll do the work for you. We’re in the business of making sure that your prospective employees really are qualified to take your business to the next level!

Let’s first define the term “pre-employment background checks” By definition, it is the process of researching one’s public, professional, educational, driving, and financial records as well as their eligibility to legally work in this country. This process is also sometimes referred to as a “employment screening”. Specific types of industries have reasons for needing this type of research done on an applicant. These types of industries include professions where employees are in a position of trust such as teachers, hospital workers, banking professionals, and those in the airline industry and law enforcement. But other industries are now interested in knowing more about an employee before taking the risk of hiring them.

Why Are Pre-Employment Background Checks Important?

Why are pre-employment background checks important? Because they allow employers the power to make better-informed decisions about whom they bring into their company. With employment screening, a hiring manager can take a more objective approach to evaluating an applicant’s eligibility. When a resume states that a person has earned a degree and the position requires specialized training, you’ll know if they are being honest. Screening someone through AccuScreen can also help you differentiate between and compare applicants to select the most qualified one. As an example, for businesses that care for the elderly, handicapped, or children, a screening is required and someone cannot be hired if they do not have a clear background.

Pre-Employment Background Legal Considerations

There are certain legal considerations to keep in mind when using pre-employment background checks to help determine whether or not to hire someone. First, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a law that regulates the use of these reports in regards to declining employment to someone, to notifying the applicant that the information was obtained, and to either keeping the obtained information protected or destroying it properly. Next, it is useful to know that if your company will be using an employment screening report as a factor in hiring someone, they must be notified with a disclosure document called a “pre-adverse action,” a duplicate of the summary of rights as listed in the FCRA, as well as a “notice of adverse action” in writing. Applicants have a right to know where this information is being obtained from, especially in cases such as where a credit report is a necessary part of being hired. For the aforementioned reasons, it is very important that employers take these legal considerations into mind to avoid ramifications.

Conducting Professional Background Checks for Employment

In conclusion, doing the research on an applicant can be a necessary and valuable part of the hiring process. For businesses in industries such as education, healthcare, legal, criminal, banking, and childcare, knowing background information on an applicant is a vital part of making an informed hiring decision. If the proper legal boundaries are respected, a business can feel confident and clear when comparing prospective employees for hire. With services like AccuScreen’s pre-employment background screening services available to you, there is no reason to neglect doing the necessary research!