The New Normal: Human Resources Background Checks

The New Normal: Human Resources in Background Checks and Drug Screening

HR departments at most businesses are constantly looking for new ways to stay ahead of the competition, and two trends have emerged as clear leaders in that race. The first trend is background checks, which are now standard operating procedures when vetting potential employees. And the second trend is drug screening, which helps employers weed out job candidates who might be using recreational drugs and abusing prescription medication during work hours, which hurts productivity and lowers the quality of service or product provided by the business to customers or clients.

Why Background Checking Is Relevant

One of the most prevalent reasons for conducting background checks on potential employees is to confirm the accuracy of their personal information. This includes their name, date of birth, social security number, past education, employment history, residence, driver’s license details, credit report information as well as other personal information they may have submitted on their application. Different types of businesses will find different things important during the process, such as if you’re hiring a delivery person who could be driving alone with access to large sums of cash or a customer service representative that could be accessing confidential customer data. Some employers also choose to run a criminal background check and drug screening at this time as well. A criminal background check can help identify an applicant’s crimes, while a drug screening can determine if they’ve been using drugs in the past. More here

3 Factors Influencing Background Checking

One of the most important factors influencing background checking is legislation, which is constantly changing. The laws about what information employers can access about potential employees are always evolving, with some states making it easier for employers to get more information than others. Another factor that influences background checking is the type of position being sought. Some positions require a higher level of scrutiny than others, such as those positions that have national security implications or work with vulnerable populations.

4 Major Types of Background Checks

There are four major types of background checks to be aware of when filling out an employment application. These are criminal records, credit reports, driving records, and educational records. Criminal records will show any felony convictions as well as any misdemeanor crimes with a sentence of six months or more. Credit reports will show bankruptcies, foreclosures, missed payments, and judgments against the applicant. Driving records will include traffic violations like DUIs or DWIs and speeding tickets that occurred within the past seven years. Educational records will show if the applicant attended college but was not awarded a degree or certificate at the time they were last enrolled there.

2 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Background Checking Company

Background-checking companies are a critical part of the hiring process, but it can be hard to know which one to choose. It’s important to research each company’s services before deciding which is best for your needs. There are two main things you should consider when choosing a background-checking company- how frequently they update their databases, and how much information they collect on each individual.

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