When you're ready to hire your next (or first!) employee, you're wise to consider running background checks on your applicants. A background check, performed correctly and in compliance with federal and state regulations, should offer peace of mind and help you select the right employee for the position. There are some steps you can take prior to hiring to help ensure consistent and fair hiring practices too. 

Read on to learn how to perform a pre-employment background check on a potential employee.

When hiring, getting a background check is usually a case of "I need it yesterday." Some employers may even choose to run a quick internet background check because they're afraid of missing out on a great candidate. The problem with a quick internet check is the fact that those type of checks may not be verified or accurate. In fact, hiring managers can get a fast turnaround PLUS accuracy with a trustworthy screening partner.

How long does it take to get accurate employment background checks? It shouldn't take long at all.

As election day approaches and some states have begun early voting, many employers have questions about supporting employees as voters. Voting turnout is generally low in the United States, especially compared with other countries where voting is mandatory, because of the effort and loss of pay while voting during the work week. Some organizations have even called for election day to be a national holiday to encourage employers to provide time off of work. While these changes may or may not occur, employers can, and already are, providing options to support their employees' right to vote.

How Employers Can Support Employees' Right to Vote.

As a leading provider of background checks since 2004, we've heard many of the same questions and concerns of hiring managers and HR leaders. We've been asked to share sample templates and any resources to help make background checks less costly and more efficient. 

Compiling these resources, our HR Screening Kit includes information to address:

• How to reduce the costs of screening
• The best ways to reduce turnaround time on background checks
• FCRA compliant screening and hiring

Read more and get your copy of the Ultimate Guide to Employment Background Checks.

There's no question that your employees are under stress at the moment. With concerns about job security, sending the kids back to school, an economic recession and a raging global pandemic, the last thing they may be thinking about is their own mental health. As an employer, it may be up to you to consider the effects of stress on your team and how your workplace can help. 

Here are ways that leadership and human resources can address workplace mental health concerns during COVID-19.

As the pandemic continues across the world, employers are choosing to keep their offices closed and encouraging their staff to work remotely. In recent months, employers have made telecommuting accommodations by implementing new technology, expanding their remote recruiting strategies and facing new challenges head on. One such challenge is the notion of hiring and pre-employment background screening new remote applicants. When in-person work was the norm, background checks were the status quo. Are they still as important?

Can employers run background checks on remote employees?

If you're looking for COVID-19 testing for your employees or prospective job candidates, VeriFirst can help. 

Our employee background screening services already include pre and post employment screening plus urinalysis drug screening. We have leveraged our current relationships with laboratories to offer virus testing to help keep your staff safe and healthy. Results will be delivered securely and in compliance with federal regulations. 

Read to learn more about COVID-19 testing as part of an employment background check.

Hiring managers and recruiters are faced with looking at hundreds of resumes each day.  Glassdoor reports that the average time spent looking at a resume is 6 seconds while other surveys have listed less than two seconds. Applicant tracking systems make the job a little easier but resumes still have to pass the scan test in order to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers.

One such way for job applicants to be noticed by recruiters and hiring managers is to have an updated resume.  Here are 5 reasons why. 

More employees are worried about workplace retaliation due to the COVID-19 and BLM protests across the country. Some are concerned with losing their jobs in their reluctance to return to an unsafe workplace. Others are worried that speaking out about racism could cause discrimination and workplace bullying. Employers are wise to understand how to protect employees and provide resources if workplace retaliation is suspected. 

With heightened awareness of discrimination due to COVID-19 or the Black Lives Matter protests, employers need to know how to protect employees from workplace retaliation.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the world's attention now includes protests in response to the death of George Floyd. Social media and video postings have brought to light individual reactions to the ongoing events and employers have been forced to address issues of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Another consideration for employers is a potential arrest record when those individuals speak out or stand with protesters.  

Should employers consider arrest records from protests on employment background checks?