When it comes to selecting the best candidates to work for your business, going deeper than just face value should be a routine practice. Problems can arise when hiring managers don’t maintain consistency in the pre-employment screening process.
What is a consistent background check?
Two applicants applying for the same job should have the same searches and investigations run on them. Different job types may require different levels of investigation. But you must keep your process uniform for the same job title to avoid charges of discrimination.
In other words, if you’re hiring a truck driver, it is appropriate to check the applicant’s driving history. But it’s unnecessary to run a credit report on the applicant if he or she won’t be using a company credit card. On the other hand, a credit check would be acceptable for a saleperson who’s in charge of a company credit card.
Companies need to be careful that they are running the same background checks for each position. It’s inconsistent if two people applied for the same position at a company and only one candidate received a criminal background check.
Why is it important for companies to be consistent?
If a company is caught performing inconsistent background checks, they are susceptible to charges of discrimination.
Job applicants can file discrimination charges under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Both discrimination charge and resulting lawsuits can tax a company’s time, resources, budget and reputation.
More than 84,000 workplace discrimination charges were filed with the agency during the 2017 fiscal year, according to the EEOC.
How Signet Screening can help
At Signet Screening, we can help you monitor your background check consistency. Signet Screening is here to support all our clients throughout the hiring process, says President Matt Messersmith.
“While we can’t play a part in the hiring decision, we can provide you with the appropriate information to inform your decision,” says Messersmith.
Contact the experienced Signet Screening team to see how we can deliver a customized pre-employment solution that delivers better hiring and improved business results. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for additional information.
