In today’s tight labor market, most employers have two priorities when conducting a pre-employment background check: accuracy and speed. In fact, a recent survey of Human Resources professionals indicates turn times and compliance as the two most concerning factors in the background screening process. Forty-seven percent of the survey participants ranked turn times as most important – more than double the next highest noted issue. 

The employee selection process is not easy. Employers must determine if the applicant has the right skills and work ethic to be successful -- and if there is a history of criminal activity or drug use that could negatively impact the company’s reputation. The complexities of obtaining drug tests, validating criminal background information, and navigating the legal restrictions surrounding the use of personal data have resulted in 98% of businesses outsourcing background screening to Consumer reporting Agencies (CRAs). 

In addition to better regulatory compliance, businesses achieve tremendous gains in the quality and timeliness of background checks when using a CRA because of disparate data sources and the complexity of the municipal, county, state, and federal court systems. Compiling and verifying the information for a typical employment background check takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days and can vary widely based on the types of searches performed. 

Looking for “Instant” Results

There are many database searches that can provide instant results, but most employers will want to dig deeper to validate and supplement the information. CRA’s aggregate necessary data from government and private databases to cross match, enhance, and validate results so they can be legally used when making hiring decisions. The quality and speed of completion of these reports are key divers for most employers.  

While the basic products offered by the background screening industry are relatively stable, no single product meets the needs of all clients. Employment Screening Services (ESS) works with new clients to help customize a mix of products that will more closely match their unique risk profiles. For example, a basic background check may be appropriate for a warehouse position, but a significantly more extensive package may be required for someone working in a nuclear power plant or administering drugs to patients. Our deep industry expertise and exposure to common practices across multiple verticals add credible value. 

When you’re ready to upgrade your pre-employment background check programs, contact us at solutions@es2.com, we’ll be glad to help customize a program that’s right for your business.