Posts Tagged ‘Background Checks’
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
It’s an interesting question: Who pays for background checks?
Is it the employer? The potential employee? The school? The school would-be volunteer? The nanny? The parents of the kids the nanny will be watching?
In a nutshell, the answer is a bit convoluted because it depends.
Most employers pay for background checks themselves. They simply consider it a cost of doing business and an insurance policy against making terrible hiring decisions. However, there are some companies that are moving to making the possible employee pay for his or her background check; we’d suggest looking into the legality of doing so depending upon your field.
As for nonprofit organizations, a good deal require that potential volunteers pay for their own background checks. That way, the entity doesn’t have to use funds to do so, and they ensure that any volunteers really want to be there since they’ve already used their own monies for clearances and background screening.
At this point, we’d really like to know your thoughts on the subject…
Have you ever paid for a background check to be performed on you? Would you? Conversely, have you ever made someone pay to have a background check report run on him or her?
VerifyProtect: Fast, Secure, Affordable Background Checks.
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Tags: background check, Background Checks, background screening, Decisions, Doing Business, Insurance, Insurance Policy, Monies, Nanny, Nonprofit Organizations, Nutshell, Parents, Volunteers
Posted in Background Checks and Screening | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
With the start of schools around the country, there has been a subtle flurry of headlines related to parents who are unable to volunteer at their children’s schools. Though it might immediately sound like the moms and dads are being denied access to their kids, it’s more likely that they couldn’t pass a background screening process.
Many schools have begun adopting a policy that only allows adults to volunteer if they can pass a basic background screening. Typically, these types of background screenings check criminal histories (e.g., sex crimes, drug problems) and, if the volunteer position involves handling money, credit histories as well.
If the parents do not pass, the school is left with no choice but to deny them the opportunity to volunteer.
While there are certainly some groups that feel it’s “unfair” to use background screenings in this manner, we believe that it’s a great way to protect children from would-be predators. Without background screening measures in place, the unthinkable can (and, unfortunately, sometimes does) occur. And no school can afford that.
In the end, it’s better for everyone… even if it does ruffle a few feathers along the way.
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Tags: Adults, background check, Background Checks, background screening, Background Screenings, Being Denied Access, Credit Histories, Criminal Histories, Feathers, Headlines, Moms, Money, Opportunity, Parents, Predators, Screening Measures, Sex Crimes, Unthinkable, Volunteer Position
Posted in Schools | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
We’ve blogged about this topic before, but it’s worth repeating: Do-it-yourself background screening just isn’t worth it.
Yes, we’re in the background screening business, so perhaps it seems as if we’re not unbiased; however, the reason we’re in the background screening business is because we understand just how complex putting together a comprehensive background screening report can be!
Why are do-it-yourself background screening measures so time consuming? Check out these reasons:
- You’ll have to sift through pages and pages of Google query answers to get even tiny bits of information.
- You’ll have to figure out what’s important… and what isn’t… when you finally get data.
- You’ll still have to pay for something along the way.
- You’ll have to find a way to verify the information you’ve gotten is accurate. (The Internet is filled with misinformation and untruths.)
- You’ll have to put all your information into a report form.
Sound easy to you? It’s not… but it is fast and convenient for us because we have the tools in place to streamline the system!
Don’t waste time spinning your wheels when you can do more productive things. Outsource when it comes to background screening. It just makes business sense… not to mention “cents”.
VerifyProtect: Fast, Secure, Affordable Background Checks.
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Tags: Background Checks, background screening, Business Sense, Google, Misinformation, Outsource, Screening Report, Spinning Wheels, Tiny Bits, Waste Time
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Monday, August 23rd, 2010
If you have a background screening policy and protocol in place (and if you don’t, call VerifyProtect pronto!), it’s bound to happen — someone won’t like it. Someone will try to “push back” and say it’s unfair. Someone will threaten you. Someone will cry. That’s why it’s important to plan for these contingencies.
So how can you ready yourself or your team for the inevitable person’s ire? Plan a statement in advance and make sure anyone who needs to use it has access to it. It could be as simple as: “Our background screening measures have been put into place to maintain the safety of our workers/volunteers/kids/clients/etc. We stand by our decision to make choices based, in whole or part, on the results of background screening.” (Note: Your legal consultant and/or HR manager can help you with any specific verbiage you need to include depending upon your industry.)
Does this mean that the person who was offended by your background screening measures will suddenly change his or her mind? Probably not. But it will allow you to professionally address a concern in a calm manner.
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Tags: Background Checks, background screening, Calm Manner, Choices, Contingencies, Hr Manager, Legal Consultant, Pronto, Protocol, Screening Measures, Screening Policy, Verbiage, Volunteers
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
If you’re like many working parents, you probably see back-to-school as a time when you need to start lining up a babysitter… or two. After all, once the end of the year gets underway, it’s nice to have someone you trust to call upon!
The problem is that many moms and dads equate “trust” with “going with gut instincts”. Instead of thoroughly background checking someone who will be watching their youngsters, they go with one or more of the following criteria:
a. Whether or not they “like” the babysitter.
b. How much the babysitter charges.
c. How available the babysitter is.
d. Whether they are satisfied with the babysitter’s references.
While these are all great criteria, they aren’t fallible because they don’t answer the bigger question: Does this babysitter have anything on his/her record that parents should know about?
Now, a 12-year-old babysitter probably isn’t going to have a criminal record, of course. But a college student or other adult could indeed have a past that would make a parent not want him or her to be in charge of any kids.
The good news is that it’s not impossible to get a thorough background check on potential babysitters and nannies. So don’t leave anything up to chance. Get the best, most reliable ’sitter you can find.
VerifyProtect: Fast, Secure, Affordable Background Checks.
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Tags: Adult, Babysitter, babysitters, background checking, Background Checks, Criminal Record, Gut Instincts, Moms, Nannies, Thorough Background Check, Working Parents, Youngsters
Posted in Babysitters and Nannies | No Comments »
Monday, August 16th, 2010
Today’s economic marketplace is very scary for a lot of employers. After all, there are plenty of financial concerns, even if a company is operating “in the black”. So it’s always wise to consider how much of a background screening plan you actually NEED in order to keep your workplace (and reputation) safe.
Unfortunately, many background screening report providers will happily sell you unnecessary plans; however, that doesn’t help your bottom line, nor does it maximize your efficiency. Instead of just “winging it”, we encourage you to take this quick assessment.
It will reveal what background screening measures are needed based on each individual position at your company. Not only is a remarkable tool for understanding what you need (and, more importantly, what you don’t), but it helps save you money in the process.
Though there’s no reason not to background check your employees, that doesn’t mean that all positions are created equal. So do your homework and be wise about your allocation of dollars. You’ll be glad you were prudent!
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Tags: Background Checks, background screening, Bottom Line, Economic Marketplace, Efficiency, Financial Concerns, Lot, Money, Remarkable Tool, Reputation, Screening Measures, Screening Plan, Screening Report
Posted in Background Checks and Screening | No Comments »
Monday, August 9th, 2010
There’s a philosophy among some business owners (and even HR managers) that not every job requires a background check. After all, the theory goes, some people’s jobs lead them to have very little access to money, equipment, customers, etc. So are background checks really necessary in those cases?
While it’s an interesting question, we’d have to say that the ultimate answer is “yes”.
Why? Check out these three big reasons:
→ Any employee is YOUR organization’s employee. So if he/she does something and it hits the press, your company will be associated with the criminal activity.
→ The employee may someday be promoted. And background checks aren’t usually performed every time someone receives a promotion. In the end, you could wind up with a supervisor or manager who shouldn’t be in his/her role because of a past record.
→ Just because you think the worker will not have access to certain things doesn’t mean that’s the case. Never underestimate someone who wants to do something. Human ingenuity can be used for both good and nefarious purposes.
Our ultimate recommendation for businesses of all sizes? Always background check everyone before bringing them on… or risk the consequences.
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Tags: background check, Background Checks, business owners, Consequences, Equipment Customers, Hr Managers, Human Ingenuity, Job, Jobs, Money, Nefarious Purposes, Philosophy, Supervisor
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Friday, August 6th, 2010
Go to any school zone and you’re bound to see a lot of things, such as backpacks, brown lunch bags and the ever-present crossing guard. But just because they’re there doesn’t mean they should be… especially if they haven’t been rigorously background checked.
If it seems too outrageous to even consider that a crossing guard could be anything but sweet and protective, think again. Any person can apply to any job… including a person who has a criminal record. And if they aren’t screened, those individuals could easily have access to kids.
So what is a parent to do? First of all, any mom or dad should ask about crossing guards — who employs them, whether they are background checked, etc. If they haven’t been screened, parents should demand to know why. And if they have, parents should definitely make it a point to meet the crossing guards if at all possible.
Above all else, it’s a safety precaution… and our children deserve to be safe.
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Tags: back to school, Background Checks, Backpacks, Bound, Criminal Record, Crossing Guards, Dad, Job, Lot, Lunch Bags, Mom, Parents, Safety Precaution, School Question, School Zone
Posted in Schools | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
This week, a terrible tragedy struck.
In the state of Connecticut, a Hartford Distributors employee, Omar Thornton, shot 8 people before killing himself. As the shock of this horrific event has begun to subside, people are starting to ask the question — was comprehensive background screening conducted when Thornton was hired?
Though no information has been released as of the writing of this post in terms of how (or whether) Hartford Distributors conducts background checks on potential employees, it is definitely the right inquiry to make… albeit too late for Thornton’s victims. For instance, did Thornton have a past history of problems with co-workers? Did he have a criminal record? Was there something that could have been a “red flag” on his record?
Obviously, the most important part of the story isn’t background screening; it’s the lives that were needlessly stolen. But chances are good that in the days that follow, many thoughts will be raised and Hartford Distributors will have to answer.
Our thoughts go out to all the victims’ families and friends.
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Tags: Ask Question, Background Checks, background screening, Co Workers, Criminal Record, Hartford, Red Flag, State Of Connecticut, Tragedy
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
It’s fine to be a risk taker when it comes to business; after all, most entrepreneurs have a “risk taking” streak. It’s all part of their nature and why they start their companies to begin with.
However, it’s not always appropriate to take risks, especially in the area of background checking.
Background checks are a means of offering an organization:
- A higher level of security;
- An increased amount of stability; and
- A better, more solid workforce.
So why don’t more execs immediately turn to background checking when filling positions? They feel it’s unnecessary and they’re just willing to take the “risk” if it doesn’t pan out.
Bad idea.
Not implementing background checks can be devastating to a business and (sometimes permanently) stunt its growth. Read the papers — just one bad worker can completely wreak havoc on the future of a company.
It’s fine to take some chances, such as trying a new marketing campaign or opening the doors to a new store. But don’t mess around with background checking; it’s one area that’s been proven to be worth its weight in gold.
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Tags: background checking, Background Checks, Bad Checks, Bad Idea, Business Checks, Doors, Execs, Gold, Havoc, Marketing Campaign, New Marketing, Risk Taker, Workforce
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