You have found the perfect candidate for your job, and you are ready to move forward. But…how do you know they are who they say they are and haven’t faked some of their information or hidden a criminal past? Did they really graduate with a degree from the college they listed? Do they have a clean driving record? Do their references pan out?
A recent survey uncovered a troubling trend. More than 64% of people surveyed admitted they had lied on their resume at least once. A quarter lied about employer references, and 18.5% said they used fake job reference services. A third lied about their college degree. And these are just the ones who owned up to what they did.
There are a lot of questions to ask, and finding the answers to verify accuracy can be time-intensive. However, you can now do a fast employee background check online at Command Credit, making the process easy but comprehensive, so you can be confident in your hiring decision.
How Employee Background Checks Safeguard Your Business
Here are 5 ways that an employee background check can protect your business.
1. Mitigating Risk
By conducting comprehensive criminal background checks, you can identify potential red flags in an applicant's history. This helps prevent hiring individuals who may pose a safety risk to your employees, customers, or assets.
It's particularly crucial for positions involving financial responsibilities, working with vulnerable populations, or representing your company to the public.
2. Ensuring Qualifications
Verification services for employment history, education, and professional references help confirm that candidates truly possess the qualifications and experience they claim. This reduces the risk of hiring underqualified individuals who may underperform or require extensive additional training, potentially saving your company time and resources.
3. Industry Compliance
Many industries have regulatory requirements regarding employee screening. For example, transportation companies must comply with FMCSA regulations for driver screening. Online employee background check services can help ensure your hiring practices meet these legal and regulatory standards, protecting your business from potential fines or legal issues.
4. Workplace Safety
Drug and alcohol verification services help create a safer work environment by identifying individuals who may pose a risk due to substance abuse. This is particularly important in industries where impairment could lead to accidents or injuries, such as construction, manufacturing, or transportation.
5. Protecting Your Reputation
By thoroughly vetting employees, you reduce the risk of incidents that could damage your company's reputation.
A delivery driver with a history of traffic violations or a financial officer with a record of fraud could potentially cause significant harm to your business's image if hired without proper screening. Comprehensive employee background checks help maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of your workforce, which in turn protects your brand's reputation.
Get the Real Story
Command Credit enables you to screen candidates thoroughly to find the truth and be more confident in your hiring. Background investigation services using employee background checks online can include:
- Criminal Records Search: Identifies and analyzes criminal records to assess the risk of a job applicant.
- Verification Services: Includes employment verification, educational verification, and reference checks to ensure the accuracy of candidate information.
- Driver Records and Monitoring: Provides a complete driver screening and monitoring solution for companies employing drivers.
- Drug and Alcohol Verification: Ensures compliance with federal safety verification requirements, including those from the FMCSA and FAA.
- Before conducting any employee background check, make sure you have a clear understanding of the regulations that may apply, such as:
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Requires employers to obtain written consent before conducting a background check, including providing copies or reports if adverse actions are taken.
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics.
- State and Local Laws: Some locations restrict when criminal history can be considered. Others restrict the use of credit checks during the hiring process except for specific circumstances.
- Industry-Specific Regulations: Includes HIPAA compliance for handling medical information or FINRA requirements for securities industry professionals.
- Data Protection and Privacy Laws: Includes California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents and other state-specific regulations.
You will want to check with your HR team and labor attorney if you have any questions about when you can and can’t conduct employee background checks. The experts at Command Credit can also provide guidance to help you make the right choices.
Conduct fast employee background checks online and take the uncertainty out of hiring. Contact Command Credit today to get started.