The Importance of Employee Background Checks

Background checks are an essential part of the job application process, providing employers with valuable insight into applicants' backgrounds and potential areas of risk. While background checks may vary from company to company, they all serve the same purpose: to protect employers from hiring applicants who could negatively impact their business or customers. Background checks provide employers with information about applicants’ right to work, work histories, education credentials, criminal records, and more. This allows employers to make sure applicants have the necessary qualifications for a given role and also reduces the chances of hiring someone who is not eligible for the particular role, for example because of a particular criminal record.

Eploy's Marketplace shares a range of partners who operate in the background checking space that allow you to extend the functionality of Eploy. Find out more here. 

Meeting Compliance

There are various employment laws in place to safeguard both employers as well as employees. While not a legal necessity within every industry, it is considered best practice to carry out a background/pre-employment check on new hires to ensure that they have all the necessary paperwork and are legally eligible to work within your business. Most commonly, background checks help to screen for employing illegal workers which could lead to a prison sentence alongside an unlimited fine amount.

Screening for Criminal Histories 

It's important that comprehensive background checks on criminal history carried out for new hires are proportionate to the role being recuited for. Also worth noting is that it is illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants on account of spent convictions; there are, however, certain industries that are exempt from this – those working with vulnerable children or adults, law enforcement, national security, certain roles within healthcare, senior roles in finance and law, as well as private security work. A background check ensures that you have access to all the required information before making a hiring decision.

Reputation Management 

The reputation of a business plays a major role in its success when it comes to attracting clients, developing partnerships and even sourcing talent. Organisations will be keen to receive true and accurate information from candidates and to validate this so they can carry out a proper assessment of the candidate’s suitability.

Legal and ethical background checks are a vital facet of the recruitment industry and should be comprehensively carried out. The exact checks that are required will vary between organisations and of course the vacant role.

Contact Eploy for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) 

At Eploy, we offer highly configurable Applicant Tracking Systems designed to help you find the best candidates for each and every job opening. Get in touch with our specialist team at Eploy to find out how we can help you meet your recruitment goals.