A pre-employment background check is not a sign of mistrust or an invasion of privacy, but rather an important step in protecting your company from the risks that come with an untrustworthy employee. Consider the following:

• Corporate Screening’s statistics show that 12% of applicants screened have a criminal history.
• A U.S. Department of Justice report released in 2003 showed that 67% of criminals were rearrested for at least one serious crime within three years of being released from prison.
• According to a 2005 University of Florida survey, retail employee theft is responsible for 47% of inventory shrinkage, or $17.6 billion in stolen property per year.
• Drug users cost their employers 300% more than non-drug users in medical costs and benefits according to Crain’s Business.

Employers cannot rely on resumes alone to determine which candidates will make good employees. According to the National Association of Background Screeners, 56% of applicants’ resumes contain one or more significant discrepancies. Simply having a background check policy in place encourages applicants to be more forthcoming in their resumes and interviews.

Thorough background checks can help employers:

• Reduce turnover – Background checks employers hire quality employees who fit their company’s objectives. By hiring only the best employees, companies can quickly lower turnover and create a more productive workforce.
• Lower the bottom line – By helping business owners reduce turnover, background checks can help lower hiring and training costs. As they hire more quality employees, employers will also see an increase in productivity and a decrease in employee theft, absenteeism, fraud and drug abuse.
• Fight employee theft – Retailers report that most theft comes from employees. By conducting a thorough criminal background check and verifying employment records, retail employers can weed out the applicants most likely to steal from them.
• Avoid negligent hiring lawsuits – If an employee causes damage on the job and employer should have known about it, that employer could be held responsible. Learn more about how a background check can help employers avoid negligent hiring lawsuits.

While a pre-employment screening policy does not guarantee that all “bad” applicants will be weeded out, it does provide employers with the hard data they need to help make informed hiring decisions. Contact a Corporate Screening representative to set up a background screening program today.

Return to the Background Check FAQ