A Full Guide for Employers on Background Checks

As an employer, one of the most important things you need to do before hiring someone is check their background. Not only does it help keep your business safe and secure, but it also gives you more information about the people you hire. We will tell you everything you need to know about background checks in this guide.

What are Background Checks?

A background check is when an employer checks out the information a job applicant has given. This includes their criminal history, where they went to school, where they worked, their credit history, and other personal information. Background checks are done on applicants to make sure they are honest, trustworthy, and have the right skills for the job.

Why are Background Checks important?

There are many reasons why background checks are important. First, they keep your business safe from possible liabilities. If you hire someone with a criminal record and they commit a crime while working for you, your business could be held responsible. Second, background checks help make sure that the person applying for the job is qualified. You can make sure they have the right skills and experience to do the job by checking their education and work history. Lastly, background checks help make sure that everyone at work is safe and secure.

5 Common Types of Background Checks

Employers can do several different kinds of background checks. These are 5 of the most common ones:

1. Criminal Background Check: This is when an applicant’s criminal record is checked to see if they have been convicted of a crime or have any charges pending against them.
2. Employment Verification: This means getting in touch with the applicant’s previous employers to find out about their work history and what they did at their jobs.
3. Education Verification: This is when the applicant’s degrees or certifications are checked to make sure they are valid.
4. Credit Check: In this step, the applicant’s credit history is checked to see if they have any debts or money problems.
5. Reference Check: This is when the applicant’s references are called to find out about their personality, work ethic, and skills.

Compliance with FCRA

When employers do background checks, they must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Before doing a background check, employers must get written permission from the applicant, give the applicant a copy of the report, and give them a chance to dispute any wrong information.

Compliance with GDPR

Many companies routinely check the backgrounds of people who want to work for them. But now that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is in place, it is very important for businesses to make sure that their background check procedures follow GDPR rules.

GDPR says that any personal information gathered during a background check must be handled in a way that is legal, fair, and clear. This means that the person being checked must be told why the check is being done, what information is being collected, and how it will be used.

Before doing a background check, businesses must also get the person’s explicit permission and make sure that any information they gather is correct and up-to-date. Also, GDPR rules say that any information gathered during a background check must be stored safely and kept away from people who shouldn’t have access to it.

Overall, businesses must make sure that their background check processes are GDPR-compliant to protect the privacy and data rights of individuals while still meeting their hiring and employment needs.

Conclusion

A background check is a very important part of the hiring process. It protects your business, makes sure the candidate is qualified, and makes the workplace safe. By knowing the different kinds of background checks and following the FCRA and GDPR, you can make smart choices about who to hire.