As we shift back into regular or hybrid work models, we can protect our company, employees, and clients by rescreening all employees.
Background screenings check employees for potential risks such as:
- Criminal records
- Drug use
- Compromised workplace safety
A background check also ensures employees meet the qualifications needed for their position and don't put a company's reputation, employees, patients, or clients in danger.
While background checks cost money upfront, they protect assets worth thousands of dollars within the company, making the ROI of a rescreening worth the investment.
How Continuous Screenings Provide Protection for Companies
Over 94% of employers conduct a background screening when they hire new employees. However, the average employee will remain in their position for four years or longer. Many significant changes occur during that time for both the company and the employee.
Continuous background screenings are the best way to meet those changes and avoid lawsuits or losses that cost companies thousands of dollars.
Continuous screenings are necessary for several reasons:
- Double checks potential errors in past screenings
- Keeps employees accountable for their life outside of work
- Monitors any risk factors that could cost a company thousands of dollars, especially in highly regulated industries such as healthcare and financial services
- Avoids negligence lawsuits for missed risk factors
In addition, we should perform a screening anytime an employee changes position within the company that gives them access to more information, power, or clients.
Scheduling continuous screenings for all employees at once ensures we don't miss anyone and treat everyone equally. For the best protection, companies should perform ongoing screenings every 2-5 years.
When Should HR Perform a Rescreening?
Sometimes a rescreening between continuous screenings is necessary. Rechecks often cost less than an original background check and provide an added layer of protection for the company.
We should perform a rescreening if an employee exhibits different or concerning behavior. Some examples include performance changes, increased irritability, or more workplace accidents. These could be indicators of more significant issues or life changes that may impact the company.
Performing a rescreening is also essential when a company undergoes significant changes to ensure employees meet the security standards of the latest changes. For example, companies shifting from remote to in-person or hybrid models and implementing new workplace standards should add rescreening into their new model.
Potential Risks of Not Rescreening Employees and Contractors
If we don't add continuous screenings into the workplace, we put our company at risk of losing thousands of dollars more than the screening would have cost.
The average company loses $140,000 to occupational fraud, or 5% of its revenue. Over half of companies never regain the amount they lost.
We can protect ourselves from this and other types of loss by finding risk factors in a person's background.
Moreover, even if an employee doesn't commit a crime at work, any negative public record will reflect poorly on a company's reputation.
In addition, if a company doesn't perform background rescreenings and an issue occurs, someone could file a negligence lawsuit against the company – costing thousands of dollars in legal fees and losses.
A background check rescreening is insurance against other losses that could cost a company ten times the amount of a background check.