Why should you conduct background screening of your candidates?

Previously we have talked about what background screening is and how it works. In this article, we will compile a series of reasons why it is important to do background screening of candidates.

Background screening involves a very comprehensive review of the candidate, including aspects such as criminal record validation, identity verification, professional and personal references, credit history, verification of previous employment and education, among other issues.

Doing background screening is essential for any organization for the following reasons:

1. Hiring reliable and competent personnel
   By doing background screening, the Human Resources department ensures that they hire safely and that the candidate is who they claim to be. Companies that do not make these reviews when hiring new personnel put themselves at risk. It is a decisive step for the organization to have honest and integral workers; properly qualified and prepared to do their job, and this is the cornerstone of the success of any business.

2. Prevent occupational fraud and theft
   Hiring a new employee is a big decision that can end up costing the company a lot of money if it is not done correctly. By doing background screening, particularly the validation of criminal records and employment references, the probability of the employee committing any type of internal theft or fraud while in the position is significantly minimized. This in turn entails costs due to losses and legal consequences. It is estimated that organizations lose around 5% of their annual revenue due to occupational fraud.

3. Safeguard the organizational culture
   Organizational culture is key to the success and overall health of any company, its personnel and customers. It is a vivid reflection of the fundamental values of the organization. When the right people who match the corporate culture are hired, everything flows as planned. But what if candidate background screening was not done? It would be like letting any stranger in, and this would pose a risk to the values and culture of the organization.
   If one of the organization’s values is honesty and one of the employees has been stealing money and defrauding customers, how do you think the organization will be perceived? Obviously the opposite of honest… That is why it is important that candidates go through these filters and that only those who fully live the culture of the organization are hired.

4. Promote a safe environment for employees and customers
   The risks of hiring the wrong person are not only for the organization, but also for its suppliers, customers and employees. Fraud or damage caused by an employee can threaten the interests of customers or cause conflict with other employees who have been affected or involved.
   Conducting background screening prior to hiring will serve to rule out those candidates who have committed crimes in the past or who are lying or hiding something in their application. This way, the company can maintain a crime-free environment that is safe for its employees and customers.

5. Encourage candidates to apply honestly
   The act of verifying and validating the history of each of the candidates will encourage them to apply honestly from the beginning and not to truncate the information requested by HR. It is a way to promote a clean and truthful recruitment process.

6. Protect the company’s reputation
   Another reason to conduct background screening is to protect the image and reputation of the organization, because in the public eye, it is not the employee who has committed the fraud or criminal act in question who looks bad, but the company itself. The company’s personnel selection process, values and professional ethics are called into question.

In conclusion, conducting background screening of candidates is key to hiring capable, ethical professionals who are in line with the organization’s vision. At Emptor we can help you find the best background screening solution according to your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us here.