At this point we should all be aware of just how important employee background checks are to your company, its’ security and your bottom line. However, what you may not know is just how extensive your employee background checks need to be. After all, your employees aren’t handling nuclear launch codes or perfecting your patented cure for cancer, right? Right, but they are holding one of your most prized possessions in the palms of their hands; your money. Therefore it behooves you to make extra sure that they can be trusted with it.
Employee background checks are the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records. They most typically include past employment verification, credit score and criminal history. The first, past employment verification, is pretty self-explanatory. You want to be able to verify that the person has the necessary experience to do the job you’re hiring them to do. The second, credit score, is often debated. Why is it necessary to check a potential employee’s credit score? Well, in the timeless words of Forest Gump’s mama: “Stupid is as stupid does.” If an individual is irresponsible or unable to diligently control their own finances do you really want them working with yours?
The third, and possibly most important, thing that should be included in your employee background checks is a criminal history. Nobody wants to work next to the next Jeffrey Dahmer or Bernie Madoff and you certainly don’t want to be responsible for their actions. True, lack of a criminal history is no guarantee that an individual won’t indulge in criminal behavior in the future, however past criminal activity can be a good indication of things to come. Employee background checks can be as extensive as you feel necessary for the position being sought, but they should at the very least include the 3 steps mentioned above.
For more information on pre employment screening or background check company contact us at background checks or call 1.770.426.0547
