Summary: Pre employment checks are mandatory for successful companies (especially nonprofit organizations). There are however, both pros and cons to performing these checks.
In today’s work environment, background checks have become the norm. Too many applicants tend to cover up their previous history or try to hide information that should be worth mentioning. However, there are both pros and cons to performing this screening process. This article will discuss both sides to help you get a better understanding of what you’re subjecting your applicants (and workplace) to.
The Pros
Pre employment checks can help an organization or company be more successful through numerous factors. Some of them include: reduced negligent hiring liability, reduced losses from dishonesty, minimal workplace violence, and increased new hire quality. All of these improvements will most likely have a positive impact on your business.
One of the first benefits revolves around the inclusion of fewer applications that contain serious discrepancies. It also discourages applicants to apply that are hiding something on their record that you don’t want to see. And, since you most likely want a safe and nonviolent workplace, you’ll be able to dictate what type of individuals you’ll want in your work setting.
As an employer, you have a moral and legal obligation to provide a safe work environment for your employees. Therefore, knowing whether an applicant has been involved in criminal activity will allow you to determine whether or not the applicant will be a good fit in your business. Factor in the costs of workplace violent, which can add up to the millions if something were to occur, and you have a system that’s definitely worth investing in. Many instant background checks are available online. However, it’s worth investigating whether or not the company is legitimate and provides you with a detailed report.
The Cons
While obtaining the background information on a prospective employee may be a solid indicator of future performance, they are also cons such as excessive costs and wasted time. When you’re looking for a service that provides a criminal background check for employment, you undoubtedly want to deal with a company that follows both federal and state legal requirements. Some background check companies tend to give a false sense of security and often leave out information that you need to further go about with the hiring process. It’s highly recommended that you perform a comprehensive check on your preferred screening company to ensure that you’re receiving a quality report each and every time. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”, and it definitely applies to pre employment checks.