Assessing your background screening program? Keep these key practices in mind.

background screening programs, here are a few key practices to keep in mind: Involving all stakeholders from the start Changes to your screening program will impact everyone, so it’s important to be inclusive in your assessment. You don’t need to involve every stakeholder, every step of the way, but representatives from human resources, legal / compliance, operations, security, and other relevant departments can add different and valuable perspectives. Bring them into the picture early on. Reviewing the relevance and reliability of your checks Step and back and consider each position in your organization, and the associated background check you require for that position. Consider whether the information you’re currently gathering is relevant to the risk and responsibilities of the position, and if/how it can be improved. While it’s tempting to buy that $9.95 background check online, it won’t be comprehensive or reliable. Review the sources of your screening information, additional sources out there, and whether the checks you perform are of the highest possible quality. Assessing whether the audit and changes will be protected by attorney-client privilege Any documents or other products of the internal audit could potentially be exhibits in possible future litigation. As you begin any assessment of your screening program, work with their counsel on the front end to determine if such work product can be cloaked by the attorney-client privilege. Re-evaluating how your team stays updated on current trends and legislation These one-off assessments are great (and critical), but they shouldn’t be the only time your team takes a look at the screening landscape. Consider processes you can implement that ensures your employees stay updated on current screening trends and legislation. This list certainly doesn’t cover everything, but we hope it’s a useful start. This type of assessment may seem overwhelming, but organizations who do perform this exercise will reduce their risk of litigation and feel more confident in their screening program.]]>