The rise of remote employees means the workplace has changed. However, some things remain the same. For instance, remote employees still need pre-employment background checks. As a result, you should consider how you'll get this done. This is particularly important because screening remote employees comes with extra challenges.
Remote Employees Can Still Cause Problems
Businesses do background checks to prevent problematic hires. People who work remotely rather than onsite can still cause issues. For example, they can still lie about their qualifications. Similarly, they can still engage in fraud and other bad behavior. Due to this, you need background checks for remote employees because you don't want problematic hires dragging down your business's performance.
Remote Employees Come With Unique Problems
That said, remote employees come with unique problems. Sheer physical distance makes it hard for businesses to monitor people working remotely. Business Insider reports that the overwhelming majority have responded by using employee monitoring software. Even so, that's no match for what management can do when everyone shares the same office space. Furthermore, remote employees might use their machines and networks to access your systems. You're always reliant on your workforce's vigilance for your cybersecurity to some extent. The issue is that people working remotely will make this even more so because you won't have control over the machines and networks they use to access your systems. Thanks to this, you have an increased need to know your remote employees have good judgment when it comes to cybersecurity and other concerns.
Background Checks Must Be Done Right
Performing background checks is difficult. Your procedures must be consistent for remote and onsite employees doing the same jobs. They must also be thorough enough to uncover anything that can sway your hiring decisions. What's particularly challenging about pre-employment background checks for remote employees is that they might not be in the same state as your office. Nolo points out that states have different rules on what you can and can't do during background checks. As such, you must comply with federal, industry-specific, and at least two sets of state regulations when screening hires. Otherwise, you risk fines and other penalties.
Consider Entrusting Background Checks to Professionals
Any business can establish an efficient and effective system for background checks. However, you need to ask yourself whether this makes sense when there're other pre-employment background check solutions. After all, the skills needed to do a good job screening hires are expensive. You won't get good value from building and maintaining a system for background checks if you'll only be using it a few times a year. Instead, the more sensible approach would be entrusting pre-employment background checks to professionals specializing in the field. You'll have to choose a suitable company. In exchange, you can get professional results at a fraction of the cost of an in-house system.
Contact a local company to learn more about pre-employment background checks.