Ensuring you find the best candidates for your roles, particularly those at senior levels, is vital. Recruitment can be expensive and time-consuming, and there are a range of variables to consider. At this early stage in the process, it is critical that your decision-making is on-point, and that time is not wasted.
Companies can significantly increase the chances of finding the right candidate for their role through pre-employment screening. Employment screening, sometimes referred to as background screening or background check services, can ensure businesses recruit trustworthy and qualified individuals for their roles.
Pre-employment screening can reduce some of the risks inherent in the recruitment process while adding value to the process and improving the calibre of the people within your organisation.
Employment screening enables companies to aim for excellence in their recruitment policies while helping them reduce the risk of making a costly mistake. While in most cases, getting an appointment wrong may lead to poor performance or increased staff turnover, in worst-case scenarios, it can lead to workplace conflict and reputational damage.
Pre-employment screening removes some of the risks associated with the recruitment process by providing employers with valuable information about the background of a candidate, their qualifications, and past behaviours. By conducting thorough checks on employment history, educational background, professional references, and criminal records, employers can identify any discrepancies or potential red flags that could signal potential issues.
This advance warning of potential problems reduces the risk of an organisation appointing someone who may not be suitable for the position.
Investing in pre-employment screening is a proactive approach that helps companies make informed recruitment decisions while building a strong, responsible, and productive workforce.
Employment screening and background check services can vary in how thorough and detailed they are. Choosing the right screening service for your needs is essential to achieve the best possible outcome.
Employment screening services from Agenda leave no stone unturned when it comes to verifying the honesty, integrity, and suitability of candidates for your role.
While many employment screening services offer a standard package of checks, Agenda recognises the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. We understand that your hiring needs are unique. That’s why we go beyond just customising the checks themselves. We offer a bespoke service that tailors not only the screening elements but also the entire service experience to your specific requirements and role.
This means Agenda doesn’t just determine what information to verify; we also customise the way you receive that information and how we interact with you throughout the process. Unlike competitors who might offer only pre-set communication options, Agenda provides true handholding.
Our four-step background screening and background check services begin when the candidate accepts a job offer. The potential employer uploads the candidate’s contact details onto our portal. The candidate is then invited to submit their information to the portal before our dedicated team conducts thorough background checks.
During this stage of the process, every detail is verified, with reference checks being completed and any gaps investigated. Upon completing the screening checks, the employer receives a screening report detailing all the necessary candidate information.
This gives employers the detailed background screening information they need to make an informed decision about a candidate’s suitability for a particular role.
Contact us to find out more about our pre-employment screening services and how they can help you optimise your recruitment process.
The need for seasonal and temporary staff is becoming increasingly prevalent as businesses, both large and small, often rely on temporary hires to meet the demand of seasonal spikes that require an increased workforce. However, a lot of companies overlook the importance of thorough pre-employment screening and DBS checks, which are crucial to ensure the quality, reliability and safety of your workforce.
Seasonal recruitment can often include a large number of hires within a short period of time, which can result in a lot of added stress and pressure for those looking through CVs, conducting interviews, staff training etc. For this reason, it’s important to streamline your recruitment process where you can.
Whilst it may seem as though there isn’t enough time to perform background screening, it is a crucial recruitment tool used to ensure that you employ the right people to represent your brand, protect your customers and comply with legislative obligations.
Seasonal and temporary employees often have access to sensitive company information, financial data and customer details. Failing to conduct background checks can expose your business to potential risks including theft, fraud, or data breaches. Pre-employment screening acts as a crucial line of defence, helping you safeguard your business and maintain the trust of your clients.
Your brand’s reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Any incident involving a seasonal or temporary employee can tarnish your company’s image and result in a significant impact on your reputation. Pre-employment screening helps you to hire individuals who align with your company’s values, minimising the risk of negative publicity.
Regardless of the duration of employment, every employee should contribute to a safe working environment. Background checks can reveal past criminal records, ensuring that you are not unknowingly hiring individuals with violent tendencies or a history of drug abuse. Prioritising workplace safety enables you to enhance the overall well-being of your existing staff and foster a positive work culture.
Several industries are subject to strict regulations concerning employee background checks, especially those dealing with vulnerable demographics, finances, or healthcare. Compliance with these regulations is not only essential for legal reasons but also demonstrates your commitment to ethical business practices. With years of experience in regulatory compliance, Agenda ensures that your screening process adheres to all relevant laws and guidelines.
If you require further information regarding pre-employment screening and background checks for seasonal workers, get in touch with our team who will be happy to assist you.
The future of background screening is that it remains as essential as ever. Screening services help organisations to reduce the risk of criminal activities, verify the information of applicants during the hiring process, and assure employers that potential candidates are suitably qualified to perform the responsibilities that are required of them.
Despite the benefits and continued use of background screening, there are likely a number of challenges that employers will face when screening candidates in 2023.
One example is due to automation. In recent years, automated screening technologies have become increasingly more popular and accessible following a rise in artificial intelligence.
However, without proper regulation and testing, the risk of automated background screening has been acknowledged by government agencies and is currently being assessed. Audit of these new automated systems will ensure that the technology can offer accurate information and that the validity of their results conforms to current laws and regulations
Learn more about the future of background screening in 2023 below, as we uncover the world of automated screening and assess new and potential risks to the industry.
Looking for screening services you can trust? Get accurate screening services from Agenda Screening – or, speak to one of our experienced team members for further details on 03456 445 546.
Automation covers a range of areas; however, in terms of background screening, there are now organisations that have adopted the automated process of using artificial intelligence to carry out background checks within the hiring process.
For many, this method of screening has raised concerns for the security of personal data and the validity of the information being provided by automated systems. As an example, there’s being numerous encounters with these systems providing inaccurate identity matching, which is detrimental to the selection and hiring process of new employees.
At Agenda Screening, it’s important to be able to relay information that’s reliable and accurate to enable our clients to make informed decisions within the hiring process.
Employers should also follow reasonable procedures when hiring, making use of information that they’ve obtained legally through verifiable sources, especially with the countless number of laws that have been passed to ensure equal opportunity over the last decade.
Failing to comply with the UK’s regulations and guidance around screening could negatively impact your organisation, more so as the legislation around equal opportunity was enforced to protect employees and provide a fresh start to applicants with criminal histories.
Despite compliance being a crucial part of the hiring process, the introduction of new laws and continuous changes to existing legislation has made it more difficult for employers to be fully compliant with today’s standards.
Fortunately, here at Agenda Screening, we have a dedicated process that’s both reliable and compliant with the latest guidelines and regulations in the UK; allowing us to quickly and accurately perform background checks on your behalf.
Additionally, we interact with our clients on a professional level, dedicating a member, or team, of our experienced screening experts to support and handle your account. Following our approach as a people-to-people organisation means that we can effectively deliver a solution that meets your requirements, without the hassle of lengthy automated processes.
View our quick background checks via this link, or speak with one of our experts!
Due to advances in technology and a rise in identity fraud, the demand for improving the security of public data has risen over the past few years. Furthermore, the introduction of new laws and regulations to protect individuals has only quickened the process, which has led to limited access to public data, criminal records, and information about individuals.
In the National Fraud Database, identity fraud accounts for almost 70% (Source: Cifas) of cases. Likewise, there has been an increase in plastic cards and telecom sectors being targeted for identity fraud, instead of banks, which have been known to be the most commonly targeted in 2022.
As a result, there is less data to carry out background checks which limits the ability to look at applicants’ criminal history. Consequently, as the economic crisis deepens, organisations have turned to less reliable methods of background screening, which has led to employers being more susceptible to approaches by criminals who offer fake deals for products and services in order to steal personal and financial information.
With all of the potential risks around screening, it’s important to use reputable providers of background screening who offer reliable screening services, such as Agenda Screening.
When it comes to being reliable, we ensure that each of our screening services is performed by our screening experts in a safe and secure manner. Working alongside your business, we will help you onboard high-quality and trustworthy employees.
By outsourcing your screening, you will save time and effort, benefiting from our technology and expertise, all whilst being confident and calm knowing your screening is in safe hands.
View the list of background screening services that we carry out and to discuss how we’re able to support your screening programme moving forward, contact us today via this link.
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