It doesn’t matter if you are running a big or a small company, a background check can prove very useful in numerous situations. However, in other instances, checking someone’s background can prove unnecessary or redundant.
It’s generally better to be safe than sorry, but as background checks are not cheap, it’s good to know when running one should not be debatable. If you’re in doubt, we’re here to help you out and share with you some situations when you should definitely consider running a background check.
If you decide that a background check is a good option for you, check out some popular agencies, such as backgroundchecks.com, to ensure that you will get the most out of the process.
Before Hiring Someone
Running a background check on a potential employee whom you are considering including in your company is of crucial importance. Even if that person did well in the interviewing process, you should make sure that they have a clean background and that they do not pose a threat for the rest of your employees. Running a pre-hire check can tell you if a person has a criminal record or whether the information on their CV matches their actual former experience.
Before Leasing Your Property
Running a background check on potential tenants before leasing your property is essential if you want to avoid problems in the future. In this case, a background check is important because it will help you confirm the identity of your future tenants, inspect their criminal history, and check their credit ratings. If any of these checks give suspicious results, you should look for different tenants.
If you are considering leasing your property to someone with a bad credit rating, there is a high chance that they will be late with payments in the future. Moreover, if your potential tenant has a criminal record, there’s a possibility that your property will become a place where people from those social circles will meet for get-togethers.
To Avoid Liability
In certain cases, a background check is a smart move that will help you avoid liability for someone else’s actions. For example, if you are running a transportation company and you’re hiring truck drivers, consider conducting a background check on them. You should make sure that the person you are hiring has not had any previous driving offenses.
If your employee drives under the influence or makes a traffic violation, and it turns out that they have already had several DUIs in the past, you will be liable for employing them. The court will probably rule that due to your negligence, that person had a chance to drive a truck and endanger other people.
Before Promoting Someone
As the employees in your company move up the ladder and advance within the company, they will naturally gain more access to sensitive company data. If you felt that an employee did not need a background check for a particular position in your company, that does not mean that they do not need one now.
Generally speaking, whenever an individual within your company is gaining more access to proprietary information, customer data, company infrastructure, or company facilities, you should conduct a thorough background check on them. That way, you will make sure that the integrity and safety of your company remain unharmed.
When Working with Children
Any job position that involves working with children requires detailed and frequent background checks. More and more governments around the world demand background screening for volunteers and employees who work with children. In some American states such as Pennsylvania, teachers, administrators, and contractors are all required to undergo background checks once every 36 months.
The two most important checks for those working with children are a criminal background check and child abuse clearance. We have mentioned the case of Pennsylvania, but even if your state or country does not have such requirements, it is advisable to run frequent background checks on your employees if your company is in any way related to children.
Before Applying for a Job
Background checks are crucial for employers, but even employees themselves can benefit from them. If you are planning to apply for a new position and you’re unsure if you will meet all of the requirements, it is a good idea to run a background check on yourself. That way, you can take care of any potential issues that might arise and deal with them before handing in your application. The easiest way to do this is to scan your social media profiles and delete or hide any information that might negatively affect your chances of getting the job.
