A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was in the final stages of securing an internship position with a company. He was caught off guard by the fact that his employment could not be guaranteed until his I-9 came back clear (as his father had been with the company for decades prior). The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has issued fines and penalties reaching of dollars, leaving companies big and small feeling vulnerable.
So watch out for the ICE-man. He will find you.
Employment screening vendors offer an array of different features and options. Some of these companies focus on the core needs of background screening, such as background checks, drug testing, I-9 verification, employment and income verification, and personal background screening for criminal records.
Others offer more comprehensive services, such as forensic hypnosis and investigative services for violent threats.
I envision the person who does this as a cross between Dexter Morgan and Modern Family’s Claire Dunphy. Maybe? I dunno.
What you should look for in a screening company depends on your needs — to start, look for one who will make sure you don’t hire a violent illegal immigrant with a criminal background and a casual meth habit.
For some background-screening vendors, the “screening” part is one of many features offered. Many offer a package deal with e-recruitment, screening and onboarding bundled together. Some also offer talent management, assessment and screening.
Whatever your company’s size or needs, there are more than enough options out there to accommodate. Some vendors do it all, while others specialize in specific areas.
Something that I wasn’t aware of is how many features are out there when it comes to screening. Vendor screening, after-hire screening, sexual-harassment investigation, violent-threat investigation and conflict resolution are just a few. The list goes on and on.
Some companies to look at were listed by HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen for employment screening, and some I found on my own.
- Universal Background Screening
- SecurTest
- TalentWise
- Global HR Research (GHRR)
- Orange Tree Employment Screening
- EmployeeScreenIQ
What do you think? What did I miss?
Inquiring minds want to know!
