3 Problems Background Checks Can Help You Avoid

Compliance and safety concerns often come to mind when building a background check program. Some industries, such as healthcare, and certain jurisdictions may have legal requirements that require special consideration. However, background checks offer a much more practical role for your business that goes beyond another requirement to check off your list. Running background checks on candidates and current employees can help solve and prevent a wide range of problems for your organization, from mitigating the risk of a bad hire damaging your organization to helping you find more time in your schedule. 

1: Safety concerns that go beyond physical safety 

Due diligence in running background checks can promote a safe work environment and may reduce the risk of legal issues from hiring someone with a pattern or history of causing harm in the workplace. Safety concerns aren’t just about physical safety and avoiding a lawsuit, though. Running a thorough background check may also help: 

• Keep client data secure: Screening current employees doesn’t just keep employees safe; it also creates a barrier for sensitive client information. Screening employees for criminal history and verifying work history can help prevent onboarding risky hires with access to sensitive client data. 

• Protect proprietary intellectual property: Like client data security, unscreened and undetected employees with a history of intellectual property theft could pose a higher risk to exploit highly sensitive data internally. 

• Protect organizational reputation: Sometimes, all it takes is one massive data leak or an unfortunate incident followed by a publicized lawsuit to sink a ship. Understanding the history of those you hire can minimize any potential unknowns that could have a negative impact on your business. 

Additionally, screening new job candidates and rescreening current employees demonstrates that your organization has taken proactive steps to prevent workplace incidents. A commitment to safety not only protects your organization but also lays the groundwork for a more efficient and effective workforce. 

2: Inefficiency in your workforce 

Background checks help your organization run like a clean and well-oiled machine. Without keeping the gears clean, even a small pebble could bring production to a halt. Leveraging background checks may help you:  

• Hire the best fit for the role: Screening can help ensure candidates have the right qualifications and experience for the role. It can also help identify patterns of chronic job-hopping or other red flags in employment history.  

• Encourage employee accountability: Knowing that background checks are part of the hiring process can encourage candidates to present themselves honestly, fostering a culture of integrity. 

• Improve collaboration: Screening helps confirm values and ethics that fit your organization’s mission to help build stronger, more unified teams. Better collaboration can also help reduce conflict and increase morale, often producing quicker and higher-quality outcomes.  

• Verify work history and credentials for specialized roles: Verifying work history, certifications, and educational and professional history is essential for many positions. This is often especially true if you rely on a candidate to fill a niche role with specialized knowledge unique to the position. 

While ensuring the right fit for specialized roles is crucial, the efficiency of your hiring and screening process also plays a significant role in maintaining productivity and keeping things running smoothly. A well-managed screening program can also help you find more time in your daily routine.

3: Time loss in your daily routine 

With the proper account setup, integration, and automation tools, you can leverage background checks as a time-saving tool in the long run. For instance, a combination of integrating your applicant tracking or hiring software with your screening dashboard, setting up custom screening packages for roles with different requirements, and using a candidate portal can empower you to:  

• Avoid incorrect and missing information: The more you are required to manage throughout the hiring process, the more time it takes and the easier it is to make a mistake. Maintaining consistency in your screening process can be challenging in industries like healthcare, where there are strict screening and verification criteria, such as remaining consistent with OIG requirements. Setting up custom screening packages can help you avoid missing requirements by setting specific criteria for various roles that can be ordered with just a few clicks, creating a quicker and more consistent hiring experience across the board.  

• Reduce internal workloads and data entry: A candidate portal connected to your hiring software can streamline the application process by allowing candidates to input their information directly into the system just once. This not only has the potential to save time for candidates but can also save time on your end by reducing the need to review, as well as potentially mitigating errors that may result from manual data re-entry. 

• Limit calls from candidates on the status of their checks: Another time-saving benefit of leveraging a candidate portal in your screening process is reducing the need for communication. Candidates can track progress from start to finish and receive text updates as soon as their background check is completed. 

Smart application of automation tools and integrations can put time back into your daily routine to focus on other areas. However, it’s important to remember that automation is only helpful if your screening operation is clean, effective, and efficient. Having a knowledgeable team on your side to help you get off on the right foot and dedicated support every step of the way can help you keep your screening program on track and up to date.  

Protecting your bottom line

Improved safety, time back in your day as an employer, and a more efficient workforce is a winning combination to create a work environment where talent thrives, the best is brought to the table, and ROI is optimal. Background checks aren’t just about maintenance; they can help foster an environment that enables teams to reach their fullest potential and solve time-consuming and costly problems before they arise. 

Are you a current customer looking to explore new ways to improve your current screening process? Contact your account manager to see how we can help you make the most of your screening program this year.