Employment Verification Basics

Learn the basics of screening employees

Pre-employment screening is one of the most important steps in the hiring process, as it ensures applicant honesty and protects the security of your business. Knowing employment verification basics will help you understand your legal obligations when it comes to applicant screening, and will also help you choose effective employment verification services, if you decide to use them.

New employee verification ranges from a simple check of the validity of a Social Security Number to a full-scale background check that investigates an applicant's criminal and financial history. Because employment verification delves into an applicant's private information, you need to take the utmost care with your screening process. You need to:

1. Comply with laws governing pre-employment screening and background checks.

2. Understand the connection between employment verification and immigrant issues.

3. Look into the benefits of using applicant screening services.

Protect Applicant Rights When Screening Employees

Pre-employment screening raises the question of privacy issues, and it's important to understand your applicants' privacy rights before you conduct applicant screening. At the U.S. Department of Justice website, you can download an employer guide that provides an overview of the legal requirements you must meet when you conduct pre-employment screening or run a background check. Make sure you, or the background check firm you hire, is compliant with the the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Understand How Employment Verification is Linked to Immigrant Issues

Basic employment verification is necessary to ensure that the potential employee is legally qualified to work in the United States. However, you need to be aware that worker screening must be carried out without discrimination. Reading material directed to both employers and immigrant workers can help you understand the full scope of immigrant issues connected to applicant screening.

Investigate Using an Employment Verification Provider to Handle Your Pre-Employment Screening

Though you can certainly complete your own employment verification--especially if you don't need to conduct an extensive background check--it's often a better use of your resources to outsource your applicant screening to background screening companies or opt to invest in an employee screening software system.

• For the most convenient employment verification, choose a provider that offers online employment screening. Generally, screening offered and delivered via the Internet is quicker than other background checks. It has the added bonus of reducing paperwork in your office.

Copyright © 2013 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.