We’ve all been there: you’re at the tail end of a particularly difficult hiring process and you’ve finally found the right candidate for the job. It’s easy to say, “Phew! Glad that’s over,” and move forward with finalizing the nitty-gritty details. But before you do, you should really consider ordering a background check on your candidate of choice. Integrating a background check policy can really benefit your company. Here are 5 reasons you should always run a background check:
1. Stronger Hires = Saving Money
Don’t just rely on your “gut feeling.” The more you know about the candidate, the better you will be able to assess if he/she is a fit for the position and for your company. Talent acquisition is a struggle in nearly every industry, so make sure that you’re not cheating yourself out of any of the available information before extending an offer.
It’s important to point out that better hires often means less turnover. We know that turnover is typically the number one cost to employers. Save yourself from investing in the wrong employee for the job.
2. Safer Work Environment
Running a background check on potential employees before officially hiring them can aide in reducing workplace violence. As an employer, you’ve made a commitment to your current employees to operate a safe work environment. Don’t skip this important step in ensuring that safety.
3. Better Compliance in State & Federal Regulatory Requirements
A third-party background screening provider with in-house compliance experts can help your company properly create a screening solution. This not only satisfies your industry standards but also state and federal regulatory requirements, which vary from state-to-state and by type of position you are staffing. Utilizing a partner that is a true expert in this field is important for the success of your company.
4. Decrease the risk of being sued
Making a bad hiring decision can leave you and your company vulnerable to liability. Ordering a background check can help you find patterns in a person’s history. For example, if a potential employee has had multiple discrimination suits against them, you as an employer may be liable should the employee discriminate within your workplace. Being able to sort out candidates with these issues will help decrease the chances of a lawsuit.
5. Verifying Resumes
Background checks can help you weed out the people that do not have the skills for the job. It also can help you verify that the candidate’s resume is valid. After all, did you know that about 40% of people have some form of a lie on their resumes? Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to these discrepancies.
Requesting a background check for a prospective employee is perfectly within your rights as an employer. These background check reports can hold vital information that is relevant to your hiring decision. You wouldn’t choose to not gather all of the relevant information when making a different business decision, so don’t skimp here either. Take the time to do your homework and you’ll see the results!
