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Is Skipping Background Checks Wise? 4 Reasons You May Want to Consider It

Most employers consider background checks to be a mandatory step in hiring. After all, the process is designed to protect employers from hiring any candidate who misrepresents their abilities or could be a danger in the workplace.

But the realities of our workforce are changing. With qualified candidates in short supply and rapidly spreading ban-the-box legislation, it may be time to adjust the way we think about background checks.

Could eliminating them be a wise decision? Only you can decide on the best policy for your organization. That being said, here are four reasons you may want to consider skipping background checks in today’s employment market:

Unemployment in Nashville is low.

Extremely low! According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Nashville’s unemployment rate is currently 2.6% – which is down almost a whole percent over the past 12 months, and significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.9%.

When unemployment is this low, qualified workers are only on the market for a short amount of time. Translation? You have to act quickly to hire the best. Any delays in your hiring process (e.g., a background check that takes several days to complete) could cause you to lose a great candidate.

Background checks carry legal risks.

Middle TN employers must follow certain guidelines to conduct legal, compliant background checks. For example, you cannot reject a job candidate based on the information you uncover in a background check if it’s not related to the position for which you’re hiring. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Unless you create a sound policy, train you staff correctly, and apply your policy consistently, the very background checks you use to protect your organization can ultimately leave it vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits.

Staffing recruiters conduct careful screening interviews.

Cool Springs staffing agencies like Wood Personnel handle the time-consuming process of screening and vetting candidates for you. As experts in pre-employment screening, we:

  • ensure nondiscriminatory hiring practices are followed;
  • carefully check employer references;
  • conduct additional assessments, such as skills testing, to ensure the quality of candidates we refer.

Temp-to-hire provides a working interview with no commitment.

If your business uses background checks to prevent bad hires, temporary-to-hire services provide the same benefit. First, Wood’s recruiting experts deliver a carefully screened, qualified candidate to work on assignment for you. During the initial trial period, you can assess the temporary employee’s skills, work ethic and culture fit on the job. Then, if the temporary worker proves to be a great match, you can seamlessly transition them to your workforce. And if, for whatever reason, you decide not to extend an offer for employment, you are under no obligation to do so.

Don’t want to worry about background checks?

Trust Wood Personnel to handle your hiring and staffing needs. Contact our Cool Springs recruiters today.

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