What is pre-employment screening? (Background checks)
Pre-employment screening refers to the process in which you, as an employer, want to verify the candidate’s background, asses his/her behavior, and screen him/her for drugs. So, it is investigating the background of an individual for employment purposes. You can hire a private investigator to conduct a background check when you have an interest in or a concern about another person’s…
Character
Credibility
Integrity
Financial stability
Why is pre-employment screening done?
Conducting a background check can be done for some reasons. Here are the most common ones:
– Child custody disputes
-Individuals entering a new relationship
– During a civil case, or criminal investigation
– Before signing a marriage contract
– Employment and volunteering
– When considering a new investment
It should be emphasized that pre-employment screening for job applicants is a necessary procedure for many employers. Here are the main reasons for conducting this type of inquiry:
- Verifying an applicant’s education: It can help an employer to assess the qualifications of an applicant for the position applied for.
- Verifying an applicant’s previous employment history
- Discovering if the applicant will have the qualities that you, as the employer, are looking for: being punctual and able to communicate effectively are among the main qualities that the employer can know about them by conducting the pre-employment screening.
- Collecting information about an applicant’s character: The employer can be ensured that the new person does not pose any risk to the other employees, and the clients.
If you need someone to conduct a background check or pre-employment screening, you can contact paralegal Toronto.
Are pre-employment screenings (background checks) legal?
You should know that the employer must have some valid reasons for carrying out pre-employment screenings. So, it must clearly state in a part of the application or conditional offer that a successful background check is part of the selection process. Sometimes the only thing that most employers only need is to confirm work experience with previous employers.
Before conducting a background check, an employer should:
– Explain to the applicant which types of information the background check is focused on and why s/he needs conducting the background check
– Obtain the applicant’s written consent and keep the information obtained from a background check confidential.
Here is some of the information that a private investigator will confirm:
Employment history, education history, credit history, address verification, identity verification, military background, professional licenses, driving record, lawsuits and judgments, workplace safety breaches, bankruptcies, etc.
How does an investigator conduct pre-employment checks?
A private investigator uses arrest records, internet searches, sex offender registry, police records, history of driving record, credit searches, reference checks, newspapers, social media, and college/university records.
When is pre-employment screening done?
Conducting investigations is important if a person is in a situation dealing with financial and legal matters or when the position applied for needs a high degree of trust, such as at in-home services, courthouse, and police government office. If it is necessary, you can consult a paralegal in Toronto.
