It is important for any organisation to conduct proper background checks on prospective employees to ensure only the right candidates are hired. Background checks of potential employees can prove to be an eye-opening and useful tool for all types and sizes of business. They can actually help HR with making the right decisions on hiring, employee transfers, and promotions.
It is equally important for HR to understand that handling employee background should adhere to the set government rules and regulations.
FIVE aspects every HR manager should be aware of to conduct a proper background check
- Inform the person about conducting of background check clearly while he or she submitting an employment application. Candidate should be notified as to how the decision to hire will get affected based on the background check report. The information is to be separately supplied and not get buried in the agreement or application.
- Get consent from the potential employee to conduct background checks.
- If any potential employee does not consent to the background check, it raises a few red flags.
- Only those applicants submitting background checks should be considered for the job.
- For high risk/profile positions, consider a higher end Suitability Assessment, together with Referee interviews: These are termed as ‘thorough background checks’ which includes inquiry of the candidate’s reputation and character. It is by conducting interviews with the acquaintances of the applicant.
- Understand what constitutes discrimination: Information derived from potential/existing employee background check should not be kept in a discriminatory manner. It is necessary to abide by the government set guidelines, with regards to religion, age, medical history, disability, sex and race.
- Inform applicants to discuss adverse information: It is important that the applicant has a right of reply.
Bonus: Different background check types
There are several types of background checks that are considered to be a part of it and can be conducted on the potential employees. The HR professional needs to adhere to the governing laws of the land and abide by it at all times, to ensure the correct and legal recruitment process. Few of the popular background check types conducted by HR’s across the globe are:
- Workers’ compensation records
- School records
- Military service
- Medical records
- Lie detector test
- Criminal record
- Credit report
The information gained from these checks is sure to be invaluable to the organisation when it is placed in the context of a ‘Whole of Person’ assessment.
Cleard Life conducts Character Assessments that goes beyond the traditional checks and reports.
If you would like to take part in revolutionary pre-employment assessment contact us here.
