4 Important Truths Employers Should Know About Background Checks

1. 4 Important Truths Employers Should Know About Background Checks

2. Investing in background checks for potential employees can often be worthwhile, but without really knowing what you’re looking for and understanding what type of action you’re permitted to take based upon the findings, they’re not always as helpful as they might seem. Firstly, let’s look at what an employee background check actually is:

3. What is an employee background check? A legal process verifying the personal, criminal, professional and credit history of an applicant, employee background checks are a standard procedure for many companies, and are typically carried about by human resources. Helping to reassure a company that they aren’t putting themselves, their business, or their customers at risk, background checks are also extremely useful when making international hires.

4. What are the different types of background checks available in the U.S.? Listed below are some of the most common forms of background checks carried out by U.S. employers: U.S. criminal record Employment history Medical screening Credit history Education history Social media check ● ● ● ● ● ●

5. Before asking your HR department to start conducting background checks on applicants for roles within your company, here are 4 important truths you should be aware of: 1. All applicants must be treated equally If an applicant feels as if they were in any way not treated fairly during the background check process, your company would be held liable by law. As such, you should design a process that is exactly the same for every candidate, irrespective of the position they’re applying for.

6. 2. Internet searches do not constitute a legal background check It can be tempting for employers to avoid the formal background check process by simply going online and checking the social media accounts or internet backgrounds of a candidate, but hiring decisions based upon your findings could land you in deep water. Let’s say you Google an applicant and find that they were arrested at some point, but if they were never convicted of a crime, any actions you take as an employer based upon your findings, could mean that the candidate has legal recourse.

7. 3. Applicants must be informed of the results Information found when running a credit check is protected under something known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and a copy of the report must be provided. When it comes to background checks, companies are not permitted to carry one out without first gaining the signed and written consent of the applicant, and if the individual isn’t hired based on the information found in the check, they must let them know. They must also provide them with the details of the company they used to carry out the check.

8. 4. Centralized information doesn’t exist Inconsistency is one of the biggest problems with background checks, and with no national, centralized store for this kind of information, companies conducting such checks who claim to offer complete results, are not being entirely truthful. For starters, different states have different laws related to what can be reported and to whom, making the process complicated and not providing enough data to be able to make an informed decision.

9. The best way of ensuring that background checks are carried out within the confines of the law, is to hire an HR and payroll provider to carry them out on your behalf. With their up-to-date knowledge of the law surrounding hiring and onboarding, they’ll keep you compliant at all times, while helping you select the right candidates, for the right roles.

10. Apollo Payroll is dedicated to delivering expert advice, responsive service, and highly accurate payroll processing and reporting to ensure the success and growth of the business that we serve. Our services include comprehensive payroll services in Homestead and other cities in Miami-Dade County, employee background check and group health insurance in Miami & Coral Gables