Background Checks

In addition to resumes, references and interviews as sources of information for making hiring decisions, pre-employment screening is quickly becoming a staple of the hiring process for many employers both large and small. Common employee background checks include drug and health screenings, motor vehicle records searches, credit history examinations and criminal records searches.

While completing a background check on a job applicant doesn’t guarantee that you will make a great hire, it certainly increases your odds of doing so and it’s very cost-effective considering the potential time wasted on employee recruiting and training as well as turnover costs.

In addition to reducing the risk of a bad hire, there are several other reasons why an employer may want to consider conducting employee background checks. It can deter candidates with something to hide from even applying for your job opening. Employers must exercise due diligence or reasonable care when hiring employees as it can be held liable for its employees’ actions. A reasonable background check can reduce the risk of negligent hiring exposure and lawsuits. Pre-employment screening also encourages honesty during the application and interview process as applicants are much more likely to be forthcoming about their history up front when they know the employer has a pre-screening program in place.

If you are considering adopting a formal policy regarding pre-employment background checks, here is some basic information that you should know. Essentially, you need authorization from the job applicant before you can perform background checks through a third party. The authorization must be separate from the job application itself. If you decide not to hire a person as a result of red flags discovered from a background check, the applicant must be informed and given an opportunity to respond. The applicant is entitled to a copy of the background report as well.

Perfect Office Placement strongly urges all of its clients to conduct the appropriate background checks when hiring employees. Our standard hiring package does not include background checks. However, we have established relationships with well-respected, reputable pre-employment screening companies and can coordinate your background checks as an a la carte add-on charge. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about pre-employment screening. For more information and specific costs, please contact a Perfect Office Placement hiring consultant today.

Perfect Office Placement
705 North Mountain Road
Newington, CT 06111
(860) 953-8547 (local)
(800) 290-2168 (toll free)
(860) 953-8567 (fax)