Employment background checks were once considered a luxury among small business owners — a practice worth pursuing, but not essential to the recruiting and hiring process. In today’s heated battle for talent, pre-employment background checks have taken on a new urgency.
Background checks offer clear benefits to employers, which may include:
- Hiring high-caliber candidates.
- Seeing reduced employee turnover (along with related expenses).
- Limiting exposure to claims of negligent hiring practices.
“A thorough background check helps employers find quality talent, while flagging issues that could cost the company money or their reputation,” notes Catherine Aldrich, vice president of operations at HireRight, a leading provider of background screening services. “Landing top talent quickly is critical in a competitive job market, but it is just as important to ensure that these individuals aren’t introducing risk to your company.”