Screening candidates for a job interview is something every company must do in the process of hiring. Background checks’ purpose is to ensure that you have absolute confidence in the individuals you hire. Since your employees are the most significant investment you could make. Making the wrong people could result in a loss of money and time.
The most recommended checks to screen candidates include identity checks, criminal checks, credit checks prior work references educational and qualification checks, and checking a candidate’s political beliefs.
These checks not only verify that workers are the people they claim to be are, but taking the proper steps will ensure that your customers employees, staff and your business secure from any potential dangers.
Below are top three reasons to screen employees:
Fraud Prevention
Over half of applicants lie on their CVs or in their application for employment. This means that it will be easy to recruit incompetent or unqualified candidates in the event that you don’t conduct background checks prior to an interview stage.The most frequently used areas for fraud include the previous work experience, qualifications and abilities and even the job title and the duties. These are all areas that typically get rewritten, as applicants do not think that employers will investigate them.Fraud is harmful in a variety of ways. It could affect the quality of work, productivity and customer service. It can affect everyone , from your customers to staff members. As time passes, it could be detrimental to the development of your company. Checks for pre-employment can help you avoid costly hiring mistakes which will save your business time and money.
Data Security
With the advent of GDPR, aswell with the growing mobile devices and the use of connected devices via IoT (Internet of Things) how we store and manage information is more vital than ever before. Not only for the sake of compliance with the law, but also to give the best protection to the personal information of your customers.Almost 50% of data breaches are caused by an insider threat, and nearly half of them are deliberate. Security is a significant issue in today’s technologically advanced world, and companies must put strategies in place to avoid information theft and data loss.Screening applicants and conducting criminal background checks are essential for any company handling an extensive amount of data from customers. It’s not just for new employees, either. Any employee who are moving into positions with greater responsibility, or in a position in which they’ll be interacting with sensitive information, security screening is crucial.
Reputation Management
Data theft can seriously harm your brand’s reputation. Up to 70% of consumers would not work with a company following the data breach.Damage control is expensive therefore the most efficient method of managing reputation is to prevent. There are many security measures that you can implement and screening employees should be the first step.Another method that employees not screened could affect your image is when they display an inadequate or untrue portrayal of the brand. It is important to learn more about the individuals who will be the spokesperson for your business. This is the reason why regular background checks for both employees who are new as well as those who have been in the company for a while are essential.
Guarding Your Workforce
Background checks’ primary purpose isn’t only to safeguard your business , but to protect your employees as well. As an employer, you are in an obligation to ensure that every person who works with your business is secure from dangers. This includes employees as well as any contractors.Fraud and criminal background checks are vital especially with the current turbulent political climate. The economic strains of Brexit and the increasing threat of terrorism indicate that it is essential to be aware of diverse religious, ethnic, as well as social groups.Creating an open and open and honest workplace where employees are open to all backgrounds as well as political and religious beliefs is something every company should strive to achieve. All forms of extreme behavior should be flagged and thorough screening can identify issues prior to that they occur.Due diligence screening will ensure that your workforce is protected from the dangers of discrimination, bullying violent acts and sexual assault. Zero tolerance for bad behavior will boost morale and result in a happier staff and higher retention.
Legal Compliance
One of the biggest challenges to deal with in any company is the non-compliance. For companies that are that are in the process of expanding it can be difficult to monitor every employee. In the industries that are governed by regulations, this can be a problem that is growing. However, one of the best methods to avoid issues at the start is to employ competent and competent managers. By screening applicants for jobs at the high-level, you can be sure to avoid hiring untrustworthy individuals or with insufficient capabilities to lead an entire team.As the employer you need to make sure that your employees are legally qualified and have the legal rights to be employed by you. Employing illegal employees is a crime that carries a maximum jail time of 5 years. Employers who do not perform checks can be punished with a fine of as high as PS220,000 (per illegal worker).When conducting a check on a potential employee’s ability to be employed in the UK make sure you verify the following: The kind of work they’re allowed to perform
– How long they’re legally allowed to stay in the UK for?
For companies operating working in the field of security that are controlled under the SIA (Security Industry Authority) You will be required to conduct the required BS7858 security checks for each potential candidate.
Because of the immense threat of international terrorism there are now strict screening regulations and background checks in aviation. It is vital to keep current with the latest regulations boards and most current legal changes that pertain to your particular industry.