Reasons to Conduct Background Checks
More and more employers are conducting background checks as an integral part of their pre employment screening procedure as shown by numerous studies and reports. One of the reasons for some of the employers are doing this is because of an unpleasant experience with an employee. Maybe the employee stole; perhaps the employee fought with a fellow employee or customer; or maybe the employee received a DUI while in the company van, and the employer decided that this type of behavior would never happen at his business again.
Most employment screening includes a criminal background check. This is the most often requested of the background checks and obviously is done to determine if the individual has had any contact with the judicial system, and if so, how often and how serious was it.
A social security trace is often run to reveal any addresses used by the applicant. Are there any locations that the candidate might need to explain because he left them off his application? Why would someone do that? Perhaps to hide a criminal record or the location of a job he’d rather you not know about.
A motor vehicle record is a must for an employee who will be driving on company business at any time. Even valid licenses may have severe restrictions and withheld privileges associated with them. A license that looks valid may also be a counterfeit or suspended. The candidate sure isn’t going to tell you if it is.
Reference checks, professional licensing, and employment verifications are other relevant areas of background checks that may lead to a clearer picture or the applicant’s past activities.
An employer certainly has the right to make an informed decision in hiring a new employee and thorough pre employment screening helps in making that decision.
As with any policy, apply pre employment screening consistently to all applicants considered for a position with your company.
For more information on employee background checks, call 770-426-0547 or click here to be connected.
