Traditionally, background checks only took place as part of the hiring process. However, with advances in technology, ongoing checks or infinity screening may become the new normal.
Is your organization considering the benefits of criminal record monitoring in Buffalo, NY? Here are three advantages of rescreening employees.
More Accurate Results
Criminal background checks can create a false sense of security. Since one-and-done screenings only include information about the past, they don’t account for the dynamic nature of people and threats. Just because a person passed a pre-employment screening doesn’t mean they won’t have problems down the line. Tenured employees may pick up a serious record or two after joining the company. Or, a traumatic life event such as a bankruptcy or divorce may change an individual’s risk profile. Annual or semi-annual monitoring keeps records current and up-to-date. Also, rescreens may uncover critical information a background check missed or glossed over the first time around.
Greater Employee Accountability
Many employers assume they will find out if one of their workers commits a crime. Other organizations require self-reporting in which employees notify the company concerning any arrests. Unfortunately, neither of these systems is foolproof. Convictions can be easy to hide. Between bail, work furlough and weekend jail, an employee in trouble may not even miss a day of work. Unlike one-time background checks, continuous monitoring emphasizes the importance of ongoing responsibility. What a worker does post-hire is as important as what they did pre-hire. To further encourage employees to be honest and open, organizations can create monitoring policies in which any falsehood or omission is problematic regardless of its discovery date.
A Safer Workplace
Lucia Bone founded the nonprofit Sue Weaver CAUSE after the murder of her sister by a worker who had not undergone a background screening. In a 2015 interview with the New York Times, Bone commented, “It is the employer’s responsibility to protect their business, their employees and their customers.” As monitoring platforms become increasingly sophisticated and more reasonably priced, the idea of what constitutes negligent hiring is likely to change. Automated screening has the potential to identify warning signs, reduce threats and prevent tragedies. In the future, the use of this technology may become part of a company’s legal responsibility in making sound hiring and ongoing employment decisions.
Finally, if your organization decides to adopt continuous monitoring, be sure to find a qualified and knowledgeable vendor. Just like pre-hire background checks, post-hire screening must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and follow the laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Metrodata Services offers both employment screening and criminal record monitoring in Buffalo, New York and beyond. We’re here to help you build long term success on the foundation of a reliable workforce. Contact Us today to learn more!