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Background Check: Why it Can Help Your Business?
Doing a background check is vital for many businesses, but it can be especially critical for small businesses. Small business owners have to wear many hats and are often responsible for managing various tasks simultaneously. This can make it challenging to keep track of potential employees, especially if you’re unfamiliar with their work history or personal life.
A background check can give you peace of mind by providing information about an employee’s identity, employment history, criminal record, and more. Here’s why doing a background check is critical for your small business:
Helps You Find Qualified Employees
One of the reasons businesses conduct background checks is to get more information on job applicants. By running a background check, employers can verify that the information on an applicant’s resume and job application is accurate. Employers can also learn about an applicant’s criminal history, employment history, and education.
Background Hawk advises that this information can help employers decide whether or not an applicant is qualified for the job. If an applicant has lied on their resume, employers can find out and decide if they want to hire someone who isn’t truthful. Employers can also use the information from a background check to determine if an applicant is a good fit for the job and company.
Helps Protect Your Business from Fraud
A background check can help you confirm that the employee you’re about to hire is who they say they are. It’s a good way to get peace of mind, knowing that you’re not accidentally hiring someone with a criminal record. In today’s business world, it’s more important than ever to do your due diligence when it comes to hiring new employees.
There are a few different types of background checks you can run, depending on what information you’re looking for. A standard criminal background check will reveal any felony or misdemeanor convictions on an applicant’s record. You can also request additional searches, like an employment history check or a search of the sex offender registry.
Helps Ensure Safety in the Workplace
A background check can help ensure that the people you’re hiring are safe to have around your other employees. For instance, if someone has a history of violence, you’ll want to know about it before you bring them into your office. A simple Google search can turn up some red flags, but it’s always best to get an official background check to be sure.
Similarly, if you’re hiring someone to work with children, you’ll want to do a background check to ensure they don’t have a history of sexual abuse or other crimes against children. This is an important step to take to protect the kids in your care and your business’s reputation. By doing so, you’re creating a safe environment for everyone involved.
Reduces the Risk of Negligent Hiring Lawsuits
The best way to reduce the risk of being sued for negligent hiring is to avoid hiring dangerous employees in the first place. A background check can help you uncover an applicant’s past criminal convictions, financial problems, and other red flags that might make them a liability to your business.
Additionally, if you end up hiring someone who turns out to be a problem employee, you can use their background check to defend yourself against negligent hiring lawsuits. In many cases, simply showing that you did a background check on an employee will be enough to get the lawsuit dismissed.
Always Do Your Due Diligence
When hiring new employees, you must do your due diligence and run a background check. This can help you avoid potential problems down the road. It’s one of the first steps you should take when screening candidates. With the growing need to protect your business and team, you can’t afford to skip this step.