BEST PRACTICES Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

The Importance of Checks 3 The Benefits 7 Background Check Program 10 Staffing Plus Solutions 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Human Resources face a number of recruiting challenges and one of the biggest is finding the right candidate for the right job. Pre-employment screening is a process that allows employers to verify information such as education, prior job history and performance. In addition, pertinent information about a candidate’s prior behaviors can help an employer decide whether the candidate could pose a threat to the organization. Past behaviors can include such items as substance abuse, credit history and bankruptcy, driving records, criminal convictions, and civil litigation.

CHAPTER 1: The Importance of Background Checks

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Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

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According to the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) – 50% of all resumes and applications contain false information

The Department of Justice claims workplace violence accounts for 18% of all violent crimes

The U.S. Department of Commerce identifies employee theft as the cause of 33% of all business failures

66% of negligent hiring trial cases result in jury awards averaging $600,000 in damage

Can you afford not to conduct background checks to save you time, money and headaches when it comes to hiring?

When it comes to hiring the right employee, what you don’t know CAN hurt you!

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There are many types of background checks available including: Criminal history search National criminal scan Social security/name trace Credit report Motor vehicle records Reference check Military service verification Civil court records Education confirmation Employment verification Credentials and licenses Sex offender registry Drug and alcohol screening

The majority of the above aforementioned background checks are provided by third party entities in compliance with standards set forth by the Federal Trade Commission.

Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

A resume might look impressive on paper, but who really knows if the information is true or false? When hiring a new employee, criteria such as education, experience and credibility are critical. Employers have the right to know where each candidate stands in regards to reliability of an application. Background checks can serve as a proof point for the kind of individual employers are potentially asking to join their organization and a protector against theft, workplace violence and other legal issues that could greatly impact your organization.

CHAPTER 2: The Benefits of Background Checks

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Better Candidates One of the greatest benefits to conducting background checks is that the quality of candidates leads to better workers, higher productivity, increased quality and lower employee turnover. As more and more companies utilize background checks, those organizations who do not will become the employer of choice for the candidates who do have high risk behaviors in their background. Reduction in Risk of Negligent Hiring Litigation An employer can be held liable even if they do not know about the employee’s history if it is determined that they “should have known”. Employers must demonstrate reasonable care relative to the position that is being filled. As a general rule, positions with the greatest exposure to co-workers, customers, and the general public have a higher standard for reasonable care. Positions such as care givers have a higher standard for reasonable care. When employers are found negligent in the hiring process, the financial penalties can be substantial and can include actual and punitive damages.

Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

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Reduction of Misconduct Background checks can be an effective method for identifying candidates who have a track record of misconduct in the workplace by identifying if there is a history of theft, fraud, drug possession or solicitation, and identity theft or other confidential information abuses. Employment verification, reference checking, credit and bankruptcy reporting, driving records, and criminal conviction checks can all lead to a reduction in incidences of misconduct. Compliance The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) allows employers to use arrest and conviction information, and misdemeanor offenses in the selection process, as long as they consider the WHOLE picture of the candidate, which would include: Interview Education Work experience Job fit assessment Background screening Employer should follow the EEOC criteria for all recruiting and hiring activities to avoid potential discrimination lawsuits.

Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

An employer can substantial reduce their risk of negligent hiring liability by implementing a reasonable and consistent background checking program as a part of their recruitment process.

CHAPTER 3: Background Check Program

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A comprehensive background check program should contain the following elements:

1. The background check should be consistent

with the specifics of the job. 2. Review the job application for gaps in

employment. The applicant should provide a reasonable explanation for any gaps listed on the application. If they cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then an investigation is in order.

3. Verify all employment and education claims on the application and resume.

4. Check all references that are provided. 5. Document all reference and background

checks that were performed. Make note of the references or employers who did not respond.

6. Be consistent and follow the process that has been established. It is important take all necessary steps in spite of time pressure to fill a position.

7. It’s better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt take the extra step and conduct a more thorough search.

Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

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Stats Employers Should Know (per Business.com) The Cost of Replacing Employees Negligent Hiring Cases

$40,000 senior

executive

$10,000 mid-level employee

$7,000 salaried worker

Negligent hiring cases can cost up

to $40 million

The average settlement is $1 million

79% of employers lost their negligent

hiring cases, as reported by Fortune

Employees who have been screened are less likely to have problems that could case their termination.

Pre-Employment Screening: Know Your Risks

Staffing Plus offers personalized HR services that will help control cost, lower risk and minimize the financial impact to your organization. We will provide you with the HR expertise and resources you need, so that you can stay focused on your strategic business and financial goals. As it pertains to Background Checks, Staffing Plus can offer the following assistance by:

Conducting a risk assessment Establishing criteria and procedures

for hiring and background checks Documenting the policies to ensure

compliance with the laws

CHAPTER 4: Staffing Plus Solutions

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For further guidance on Pre-employment Screening and other HR related areas, please contact our HR Outsourcing experts at (610)525-4000 or via email at hro@staffingplus.com

551 W. Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA 19041 Toll Free: 800-550-9212 Local: 610-525-4000 Fax: 610-526-6740 Email: hro@staffingplus.com