While it’s understandable that small business owners might strive to cut corners and save money however they can, in some cases it’s just not worth the risk. Employee background screening is one example. While it may be tempting to do it all in-house, there are serious risks and hazards to doing so.
Here are three ways DIY employee background screening could be detrimental to a business:
1. Misunderstanding the Data
Just because records can be pulled doesn’t mean they will be easily decipherable. Employers who are inexperienced in reading and interpreting such records could make costly mistakes. An employer who isn’t versed in the language and meaning of these records is at risk of missing crucial information that could cause them to engage in negligent hiring. They might also err in the other direction and inadvertently discriminate against someone who is actually a quality hire. A professional background screening service can assist in gleaning and distilling the relevant information and then presenting the salient points in an easy to understand manner.
2. The Ever-Changing Legal Landscape
In addition to federal laws and EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) regulations, each state has its own guidelines for how employers may enact background checks in that state. A lack of awareness and failure to comply with these guidelines could leave an employer vulnerable to a lawsuit. Screening laws can change anytime, and using a professional employee background screening service can help to ensure that the process will be handled in a legally compliant manner.
3. Lost Time and Focus
Small business owners must wear many hats, and it’s all too easy to get spread quite thin. Doing their own background checks and employee background screening could contribute to added stress and burning the candle at both ends. Sifting through raw data in court systems, criminal searches and credit reports can be both confusing and time consuming, taking a business owner away from their area of expertise. Outsourcing employee background screening to a proven, professional service expedites the process and allows business owners to focus on what they do best: run their business.
Business owners shouldn’t take risks with the success and future of their enterprise. Outsourcing duties like employee background screening can help keep a business compliant and increase its effectiveness when hiring new staff members.
Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advice regarding actions to take in any situation.
I really did not know the EEOC changed so frequently these days when it comes to background screenings! The last thing I would want to do was something that could get me in legal trouble over not hiring an employee. I’ll need to make sure the service I use follows the EEOC guidelines when it comes to not hiring potential employees. Thanks for this great info on the background check process!