Risk Solutions

By Adrienne Hedger

Employee screening is a critical first step when it comes to acquiring the right talent. Today, screening practices are more widespread than ever. Public awareness of security threats is high, particulary due to September 11, as well as high-profile corporate scandals and workplace violence incidents. To help minimize threats, governments and other regulatory bodies are strengthening their screening proccesses - and corproate America is following suit.

Converging trends are also fueling growth in the background screening industry (see The Case for Screening sidebar). Technology is reshaping the discipline, automating many manual tasks and allowing providers to deliver new, compelling services. Meanwhile, as Human Resource Outsourcing continues to expand, background screening - which is often integrated into larger solution packages - will grow and evolve as well.

With all these changes and advancements, background screening is shaking off its image as a commodity. The leading service providers are finding new ways to deliver value, and companies are realizing that background screening can be a strategic differentiator - one that helps them hire the right talent as quickly as possible.

What should you consider as you review your employee screening strategy? What are the factors that can help your company minimize the value of this service? There are four elements to consider:

• - Be specific about your needs
• - Don't compromise on quality
• - Take advantage of efficiencies
• - Consider the customer service