An employee background check allows an employer to weed out the weirdos and the incompetents. Seriously, background checks enable access to a person’s work history, criminal history, education credentials, financial history, and even social media use. All of this info helps employers make intelligent decisions about which people to hire, promote or pass up.

Weed out the Delinquents

There is overall no way to guarantee workplace safety. Even the most careful companies sometimes hire cuckoos. However, employers can minimize the risk of hiring delinquent employees by examining criminal histories. For example, an applicant with a violent criminal history may be seen as at risk of harming other people. A background check could alert the employer of previous arrests or criminal convictions.

Go for the “Adulting” Candidate

Employers may also request to check a candidate’s work history and education history. For instance, a managerial position may require someone with a bachelor’s degree and supervisory experience. A candidate may list a stellar education and super-human work achievements on a job application. However, at times applicants embellish. You cannot detect lies and liars on your own.

Checking the applicant’s background will ensure the candidate truly has the education and experience the employer desires. In general, employers also want to hire responsible and reliable people. For this reason, some employers request access to applicants’ credit histories. A person who has a history of late payments or bankruptcy is seen as less responsible than someone who manages finances like a boss.

Knock Down That Revolving Door

Employers want to hire employees who are willing to stay in a position for many years. A low turnover rate means the employer saves money on training and hiring new people for various positions. One way employers can reduce the risk of employees leaving positions is to check employees’ work histories before making hiring decisions.

For example, a person with a history of job-hopping may be unlikely to stay long in any position. Whereas, someone who tends to work for a company for many years at a time is less likely to quit a job after a short while. Longevity can also, in most cases, equate to employee loyalty. Someone with twenty years of service to the same employer demonstrates the ability to remain in good standing with an employer over time. Such a person is probably an earnest worker who has few pink slips and plays well with others.

While an employee background check requires time and effort to complete, such checks are overall good for employers. The employer is given the ability to minimize the risk of a high turnover rate and ensure that they are hiring competent workers. To find out more about laws and procedures for employee background checks, employers can consult with their state labor department or the federal government.