Employers should conduct criminal records searches when hiring for positions requiring public contact or handling cash, financial data, or sensitive personal information.
This is especially true for service contractors with employees entering people’s homes. They may also be required to screen applicants for security purposes at ports of entry or government agencies.
Background Checks Are a Legal Requirement
When hiring new employees, employers often want to check a candidate’s criminal record and financial history. This is a good idea for several reasons.
First, criminal records searches can be valuable in protecting against fraud and identity theft. This is because jobs in the financial industry often involve access to people’s money, client accounts, credit card numbers, and other personal information. If a person is found to have committed a crime or used a stolen Social Security number while working for an employer, this could lead to a civil lawsuit.
In addition, background checks can also determine if an applicant has any mental health issues that may affect their ability to perform their job duties. This information can help employers prevent workplace harassment, protect against discrimination in the workplace, and provide a safe work environment for everyone in the company.
Federal and state laws also require that an employer provide written notification to the applicant before conducting a background check. The notice should explain that the report will help make a hiring decision and allow the applicant to challenge any information in the report. The employer must also supply the applicant with an authorization form that the applicant can sign to allow the use of the report.
They Help You Avoid Hiring Misfits
Aside from being a legal requirement in most states, criminal record searches have other benefits for employers. They can help you reduce hiring mistakes by weeding out less-than-stellar applicants, save money and time by eliminating bad hires early on, and ensure you get the best possible talent.
The best criminal background checks use federal, state, and local resources to find information on arrests, convictions, criminal history, and more. The federal judicial system provides robust data collection, including offenses like narcotics, felonies, theft, and drug abuse.
While it’s not easy to do a comprehensive background check on every candidate, you can get around this challenge by opting for a two-step screening process. The first step is to pre-screen the applicant using their resume and other personal information. You can also go beyond their employment application by checking out a person’s criminal record and requesting their driver’s license and credit report.
The best part about a good criminal background check is that you can be confident that you’re not making a mistake on a critical employee. This can lead to a happier and more productive workforce and lower turnover rates down the road. Working with someone you know you can trust is also a lot more fun. The only downside is that you might miss out on an outstanding candidate with a bad credit score or who can’t pass a drug test.
They Help You Protect Your Company’s Assets
Many businesses store sensitive personal information–names, Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other data–that can be used for identity theft or fraud. If stolen, this information can be a major liability for your business.
Keeping this type of data secure is essential to protecting your company’s reputation, customers’ trust, and bottom line. That’s why many companies invest in protecting sensitive information with a security plan that includes implementing strong encryption, locking down access to the data, and monitoring suspicious activity.
Another benefit of a well-planned security strategy is that it will protect your employees from falling victim to a security breach. This can be especially important for workers who handle client data, such as customer information and account numbers.
The ability to quickly identify and alert employees at risk of a security breach can make all the difference in keeping sensitive information safe from harm. This can be done through various methods, including using secure passwords, having an employee wear a PIN, and not leaving sensitive documents on the desk or in file cabinets.
A criminal record search is also a good way to determine if an applicant has a solid background and is a good match for the job. A comprehensive background check can help you avoid hiring misfits or candidates who will sabotage your business.
They Help You Make Better Hiring Decisions
When it comes to hiring employees, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best candidates possible. That’s why background checks are so important. They can help you avoid hiring misfits and protect your company’s assets.
But hiring someone with a criminal record can be difficult. It can also have a negative impact on your company’s reputation and the safety of your employees. It’s no secret that job applicants with a criminal history carry a stigma, even when it doesn’t have anything to do with the candidate you’re considering.
However, employers increasingly understand that a criminal record is only one part of a person’s story. They’re allowing a person to be evaluated on their qualifications first and then running criminal records search later in the process.
You’re also helping potential employees improve their lives by providing them with a steady income and job security. That can go a long way toward helping them overcome their previous mistakes. And you’re also supporting racial justice, as Black people have been disproportionately criminalized and have more difficulty reentering the workforce after serving their sentence than white individuals.
