To avoid poor hiring decisions, many companies are now using employment screening services and running background checks on job applicants. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, all companies should consider taking advantage of these services because not using them can cost businesses a lot of money in the long run. When a company makes a poor hiring decision, there is a great deal of time and money that goes into finding a replacement. Further, in some cases, companies face possible lawsuits if the employee decides to sue for unethical firing. To make sure your company is always operating with the best staff possible, follow the guide below.
- Don’t perform checks on every applicant. It’s important to avoid performing background checks on everyone that applies for a position at your company. Take the time to meet with possible candidates that are qualified and then perform a check if you are interested in offering them the job. Also, do not put the EEOC box (which asks applicants if they’ve ever been convicted of a crime) on your application, as using it shows that you are being discriminatory.
-
Be consistent with applicants. Your hiring process should be consistent across the board, regardless of the position a person is applying for. The same searches and investigation should be run on everyone that you are considering hiring. This step is essential for avoiding possible discrimination suits.
-
Communicate with applicants. If you do come across something that raises a concern on an applicant’s background check, it’s important to talk to them about it. Don’t avoid the person’s phone calls or try to sweep it under the rug. Conducting a face-to-face conversation with the applicant about the information can sometimes clear up possible errors or misconceptions.
- Be fair with information you receive. If you do get some negative results from a report, consider the circumstances. To be a fair employer, you have to remember that single acts don’t define who people are and that seeing a negative pattern is much different than a one-time “slip up.”
- Don’t do it yourself. To get the best and most accurate information, you should consider employment screening services. These companies will do a much more thorough job and are efficient at locating the information you require to make an educated hiring decision.
Avoid making poor hiring decisions in the future by following the above tips.
Leave a Reply