EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND: IN-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING

Background screening for employees, or IN-EMPLOYMENT, is often incomprehensible to Human Resources departments, because the person is already employed by the company, and sometimes has even been working there for several years.

In companies where hiring policies are nonexistent or relatively recent, long-standing employees have not gone through these processes. They may not even be aware that the company has implemented background screening policies. Companies unfamiliar with hiring policies often have difficulty understanding the purpose of these screenings.

The first thing is to understand why they are implemented hiring policies. This policy is in compliance with the obligation to prevent risks in companies. Background screening is about ensuring that employees do not represent a security risk of the company, its colleagues, or its clients. This is especially important in projects that handle sensitive information or valuable resources. A verification In-Employment It will apply to those employees who are already in the company and have to occupy positions of responsibility, or where they will handle sensitive information of the company or third parties. 

Many industries have particular regulations that require employee background checks. Complying with these regulations not only avoids legal penalties, but also protects the company's reputation.

Additionally, verifying employment and educational background ensures that employees have the skills and experience necessary for the project. This contributes to the efficiency and success of the project.

On the other hand, a background screening can identify a history of fraudulent or dishonest behavior, helping to prevent possible incidents of fraud within the company. In projects involving technology development or innovation, it is vital to ensure that employees do not have a history of intellectual property theft.

Still, you're probably still wondering, "Why do background screening on employees if we already know them because they work at our company?”.

Because this process it is not exclusively for new hire candidates, if not for candidates for a new job. This new job can be for another department Within the company itself, it may be to occupy a position role of greater responsibility in the same department or it can also be to be part of a team that will work in a specific project.

These are the most common situations in which an employee is required to complete the “In Employment Screening” process. There may be other situations that warrant the completion of an “In Employment Screening” But the important thing is not what motivates this procedure, but how communications with employees are managed when they have to go through a process that they are unfamiliar with and that generates misgivings.

We emphasize that the objective of background screening It is not about distrusting employees, but protect everyone involved and ensure the success of the project. That's why it's important to rely on professionals when carrying out these checks. At Grupo GAT, we can advise you on how to manage them.

For more information, see our other publications on internal communication of background screening policies and procedures.