How Safe is Your Workplace?

How Safe is your Workplace?

When you are running a company, a key duty is keeping everyone in your company safe. The best way to protect you and your clients and employees is knowing the background of the people you hire.
It’s always a good idea to conduct in-depth background checks, which may include several types of criminal record and noncriminal checks, based upon the type of job and the nature of your business.

Preventing theft and violence
Performing background checks on prospective employees helps decrease the risk of employee theft and violence in the workplace. In addition to creating a safer work environment, background checks increase profit margin. Employee theft and violence among U.S. companies cost $171 billion in 2008.

A custom background check
In today‚Äôs criminal background check industry, there are several types of background checks from which to choose. It’s important to understand each type of background check so you can customize the best set for your needs.
The most common types of background checks are instant criminal databases, sex offender registries, identity verification, drivers’ history reports, credit reports, Workman’s Compensation reports, and county, state and federal criminal checks.
Companies often make the mistake of performing only instant criminal checks. These searches include only about 5 percent of records nationally. Solely using instant criminal checks should be avoided, according to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.

A thorough criminal history should include a mix of county and state court records, nationwide databases, federal criminal databases, government watch lists and identity verification. Adding noncriminal searches, such as credit reports, for those who handle cash, or drivers’ history reports, for those who drive a company vehicle, add to the depth and accuracy of your search.

Staying compliant
When determining a background screening policy, it is important to know the two major types of compliance: Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) compliance and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
EOE compliance means establishing a policy that the same type of background checks must be run on all employees. Staying EOE compliant also means maintaining a stringent policy about which offenses disqualify a candidate for a position.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, it is your background screening provider’s duty to provide education and tools to help you stay compliant (most companies provide this at no charge).

Peace of mind
After determining the need for background checks, a company must review its needs with the background check provider to customize a screening procedure. Shop around to determine your options. Make sure the checks offered are accurate and verifiable.
Then it’s time to watch your company succeed be cause you know you’ve hired the best employees.