Staffing agencies help organizations across industries locate and hire top talent for short- or long-term positions. As part of that process, agencies must implement background screening services to grant employers peace of mind and confidence about the employees they recommend and place. Staffing agencies often utilize basic criminal background checks. Running employment verification, professional license verification, education verification and other verification services not only grants agencies a competitive edge, but reduces liability, ensures compliance, and increases the likelihood of expanded business due to a track record of reliability with candidate recommendations and placements.
The Benefits of Staffing Industry Background Checks
Staffing agencies work with a wide variety of businesses and organizations with distinct goals and hiring protocols. While agencies should be familiar with their liability insurance terms and client agreements (especially as it relates to minimum background check requirements), there are a number of internal best practices staffing agencies can adopt to ensure thorough background screening and increased business (and compliance) resulting from a trustworthy candidate screening process.
Employers frequently seek to fill a temporary, part-time, or full-time position quickly without investing a significant amount of time and energy in their own recruitment background screening process. That’s why it’s so beneficial for a staffing agency to thoroughly and competently handle this process in advance, facilitating confidence in the candidate and a quick placement. Of course, the other major advantage for employers is that when a candidate is dishonest about some aspect of their credentials, work history, or background, this is revealed before a recommendation or placement is made, potentially sparing the organization issues with low productivity, negligent hiring liability or internal fraud.
Let’s explore the other major benefits of implementing a comprehensive background screening process for your staffing agency and its clients.
Mitigate Hiring Risks
Navigating a host of client agreements and liability insurance terms is difficult enough for staffing agencies, but agencies must also address valid employer concerns about the prospect of temporarily or permanently employing a candidate who has not been thoroughly vetted. When a staffing agency or employer only uses a basic criminal background check, they may only gain access to a limited portion of criminal records and background information. Unfortunately, this approach excludes vital verification services that are necessary to determine whether a candidate has been truthful and accurate about a number of other key concerns. With a qualified and comprehensive background screening provider like The Orsus Group, staffing agencies can determine the following for employers before making a placement:
Whether a candidate has…
- Actually acquired claimed degrees or credentials
- Worked for past employers during the dates listed, in the stated role(s), and with satisfactory performance
- Provided valid, accurate, and verifiable professional references
- Undergone Social Security Number (SSN) verification and tracing (linking the candidate’s provided SSN to the correct name/ID)
- Undergone Occupational Health or Drug Screening, as needed
- Acquired and maintained necessary professional licenses and certifications
- Maintained a clear driving record using Motor Vehicle Reports, especially crucial for positions in transportation industries or for driving positions
- Cleared international education and employment verification checks
Ensure Compliance During Recruitment Background Screening
Whether conducting basic background checks or comprehensive background screenings involving verification services, staffing agencies must consistently comply with a number of local, state, and federal state regulations.
Working with a qualified background screening provider like The Orsus Group simplifies this process, helping staffing agencies remain in compliance with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirements for disclosure, adverse action, and other steps that require professional guidance. The Orsus Group can also ensure that your agency develops responsible internal hiring practices to remain in alignment with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines, especially when navigating relevant screenings and inquiries for temporary employees. Lastly, staffing agencies must stay up-to-date and compliant with frequently shifting local and state regulations that impact arrest record “ban the box” policies and much more. Delegating this responsibility to the Orsus Group allows your agency to focus on business growth, client acquisition, and locating promising candidates for placement.
Gain a Competitive Edge by Placing Qualified Candidates
Rather than offering strictly required or minimal background screening support, staffing agencies that use comprehensive background screening gain a competitive edge over other agencies and demonstrate to their current and potential clients that they are deeply invested in providing top-tier and trustworthy candidates to the employers they serve.
Staffing agencies that use comprehensive background screening with verification services give the following benefits to the employers that work with them:
- Increased understanding of a potential candidate. Rather than a bare-bones portrait of a candidate’s background, employers will instead have access to a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s employment history, education, maintenance of licensing, and professional reputation (from references and other resources).
- Increased safety and peace of mind in the hiring process. Whether it’s a deep understanding of a candidate’s criminal history, extensive insights from recent professional references, or results from an occupational health screening, information from a comprehensive background screening helps employers hire with confidence. Along the way, employers develop a deeper sense of trust in their relationship with the staffing agency, understanding that a more comprehensive approach helps them bypass untrustworthy candidates and consistently locate promising ones.
- Improved staffing solutions and expedited hiring. Especially when it comes to finalizing placements for temporary employees, employers are often in a rush and need to locate a reliable and competent candidate quickly. Background screening provides peace of mind when screening temporary employees prior to their direct hire placement.
Reduce Hiring Risks and Expand Your Client Base with The Orsus Group
Using a more comprehensive background screening process supplemented by advanced technology and professional support can help your staffing agency enhance its reputation, gain new clients, ensure long-term compliance, and secure the best talent. Ready to give yourself and your clients peace of mind while improving client relationships? Start the process today by contacting The Orsus Group.