Top Do’s and Don’ts of Conducting Employee Background Checks

Employment screening is becoming inevitable for finding reliable employees. However, the process is dotted with pitfalls and difficulties for employers. In today’s business environment where employees are considered the face of the business, you want to make sure that you can trust the people representing your company, but you also want to ensure that you follow state employment laws and the guidelines of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) concerning employment screening.

So how can you make sure that you follow all the rules and regulations while screening employees for your company? Below is a basic guide of all the do’s and dont’s for employment screening.

Do Dollow the Regulations of FCRA: The Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA) was introduced to regulate online background checks. Be sure that the agency you hire for employee background check services is FCRA compliant. It is crucial to select a firm that can provide a comprehensive report while giving you peace of mind to make confident hiring decisions.

Do follow laws: One must give the applicant a disclosure form along with the application form to inform them that they will need to go through employment screening for hiring purposes. It is critical to ensure the person’s authorization for the background check in writing. Also, make sure that you inform the applicant of his or her rights and also provide them with the copy of the report after you order the report.

Don’t have conflicting policies: Ensure that the employees that fall under the same job title go through a consistent screening process. Different job titles may require different checks, but always ensure that you follow a uniform process for the employees with the same job title to avoid discriminatory issues.

Don’t base your background checks on social media: Social media profiles can reveal several private details such as age, race, sexual orientation, religion, or political affiliation, which can lead to a biased decision. It’s best not to look at social media profiles for making hiring decisions.

Do hire a professional background screening agency: Last but not the least, hire a professional agency to process employment screening such as A Good Employee. With years of experience and knowledge, they allow you to make confident hiring decisions every time. Also, as they are familiar with the rules and regulations for hiring, they can help you stay in compliance with state and federal law.