Creating a background check policy allows your human resources department to be consistent during the hiring, promotion and terminations processes. Employers must be mindful of applicant rights when applying a background check policy and any local, state or federal employment laws applicable in your area.  Attempting to remember screening procedures as well as compliance rules can be challenging, especially if hiring is done sporadically or not as often. A screening policy is a dependable, company-wide policy that helps to create a positive experience for hiring managers and employees.

Here are the most important steps to creating an HR policy for criminal background checks.

It's that magical time of year when retailers across the nation are looking for seasonal employees to take them through the holidays. With a great economy in full swing, stores are looking to hire over a half a million workers, just in time for Black Friday. Seasonal hiring may be different this year, thanks to the great economy, because the unemployment is the lowest it's been since 1969.

Here's what employers should consider when seasonal hiring this year.

Most people lie on their resume. The typical resume untruths are embellishments or exaggerations so the candidate sounds more impressive or more experienced than they are. Earlier this year, CareerBuilder reported that 45% of hiring managers can't find qualified talent so fluffing up credentials is happening more than ever. These resume white lies may not necessarily reveal a bad hire if the candidate is bright, hardworking and willing to learn. Some applicants, however, may be hiding who they really are and it's up to the discerning hiring manager to uncover the scary truth underneath .

Here's what you may find behind the masks some applicants wear.

Nearly three quarters of employers run background screens on employment applicants. While it is assumed that employers are looking for criminal records, a Reddit thread about background checks uncovered plenty of other valuable and available information to determine if the applicant is a good fit. Those who fit well, perform better and stick around longer, reducing turnover costs and the risk of low morale.

Employers may be closely reviewing background check information to help improve or maintain a positive workplace culture.

More companies are choosing to screen their employees, both prior to hire and after they are employed. With the “Me Too” movement and the most recent accusations against Judge Kavanaugh, rolling background checks are now considered a good idea for employers wishing to make their workplace safe from sexual harassment.

If your company or HR department has considered rolling background checks, here are some best practices for updating your employment policies to include it.

Decision matrices are used by executives for all manner of business decisions that include many variables and multiple choices. When consistency is required and emotion must be removed, such as with hiring, a decision matrix can be a valuable tool. Federal legislation also recommends consistency and objectivity. The EEOC and other anti-discrimination laws rely on employers to reduce bias so that all applicants get a fair chance. 

A decision making matrix during the hiring process can be the perfect tool for leaders. Here are a few examples.

Employers run background checks on employees to keep both their business and their customers' interest safe. A basic background check is used to verify a potential employee's identity and determine if there was any past criminal activity. Credit checks aren't necessarily included in a basic screening but would be used if the job description requires it and could affect employment chances. Federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, race, and religion, however as of this writing, only 11 states have limits against discrimination based on credit.

Can an employer look at an applicant's credit report? The answer is, "It depends."

Employers and job seekers alike struggle with the time it takes to receive background check results. The waiting is the hardest part... 

Most frustrating is that some background checks seem to take less time than others, leaving hiring managers scratching their heads wondering why. In general, the results of a background check could take 2 or 3 business days but there are many factors that could affect that number. 

Why do some background checks take longer than others? 

Background checks are important for any size business but may be overlooked by small businesses who don't hire regularly or don't know where to begin.  Some growing businesses may also opt out of screening due to time constraints or cost. Small businesses, however, have a lot more to lose by not screening new employees. If the wrong employee is hired, there's a huge loss of time and money. If the employee doesn't represent your company well, you could be sued for negligent hiring or face brand reputation challenges.

Background checks don't have to be a pain for small businesses. Use this handy resource list to get started and keep your company safe.

For employers who screen applicants, the process can be overwhelming, time consuming and cost prohibitive. Running background checks, however, can reduce the risk of negligent hiring and high turnover and is a positive step to ensure you're hiring the right employee. To balance out the risks with the potential negative cost of resources, applicant screening can be more accessible and efficient with some HR organization.

Two important keys to applicant screening are company policies and job descriptions.
Here's how they help.