COVID-19: Background Screening More Critical Than Ever

The COVID-19 pandemic is fundamentally affecting the world and businesses. In this time of crisis, businesses have to adapt quickly to survive, which sometimes means cutting costs and steps in various business processes, including hiring practices. Unfortunately, neglecting to conduct proper due diligence in pre-employment background screening during COVID-19 can have disastrous consequences.

Many companies are still hiring during the pandemic. Some are hiring at an accelerated rate – especially in the medical profession and industries dealing with infectious diseases, medical supply, pharmaceutical companies and research facilities. Also, supply chains have changed. The increased need for delivery personnel and filling supply gaps in countries under quarantine are driving more hiring and, subsequently, a need for quick and effective pre-employment screening.

For more about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting hiring and increasing risk, download our new FREE ebook: “Employee background screening during COVID-19: everything you need to know & more.” Learn about how “money mule” scammers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis and how EmploySmart™ can help mitigate risk and keep your organisation better protected.

Benefits of background screening

Skipping pre-employment background screening increases the risk of hiring someone who could cause irrevocable damage to your organisation. One bad actor in your hire can have serious consequences from the loss of reputation and brand damage to outright fraud or theft. Conversely, a robust pre-employment check can help you and your company:

• Reduce turnover & training costs
• Gain a competitive edge through the hiring of better people
• Increase productivity – help your employees be more productive knowing that everyone employed by your company has been screened
• Set your company apart & win more business
• Reduce employee-related problems
• Protect company reputation/brand & customer relations
• Comply with mandates created by state or federal law for certain industries
• Increase retention
• Reduce negligent hiring claims
• Avoid violence in the workplace (threats of violence & actual violence)
• Reduce theft & espionage
• Avoid lawsuits & the costs associated with a legal defence
• Avoid loss of goodwill

EmploySmart™ in a time of crisis

EmploySmart™ is CRI Group’s robust pre-employment background screening service that helps companies of any size and industry avoid negligent hiring liabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s especially important to ensure a safe work environment for all of your employees. EmploySmart™ can be tailored to meet the requirements of each specific position within your company. As a leading worldwide provider of specialised local and international employment background screening, CRI Group’s services are second-to-none in providing risk mitigation and peace of mind in the hiring process.

Timely and robust screening

EmploySmart™ provides a full, quick and efficient in-depth background screening service for candidates and employees at all levels. This covers your bases from senior executives to shop floor employees, from registered nurses and communications associates to social workers, project managers and technicians. Our background screening checks include the following:

• Address verification (physical verification)
• Identity verification
• Previous employment verification
• Education & credential verification
• Local Language Media Check
• Credit verification & financial history (where publicly available)
• Compliance & regulatory check
• Civil litigation record check
• Bankruptcy record check
• International criminal record check
• Integrity due diligence … and more.

Manage international hires

In today’s global economy, many corporations engage in international hiring. When doing so, it is critical for each international candidate to verify that they are permitted to work in the region you are recruiting for. You are subject to statutory penalties if you employ foreign nationals who don’t have the correct visas.

Criminal records checks may be required depending on the role you are recruiting, such as roles with children or vulnerable people, which are highly regulated – and the rules for these vary from country to country. Privacy laws also vary, which is why CRI Group’s experts’ research and understand local laws so that you don’t have to. CRI Group has established an interdisciplinary team of experts in employment law, best practice and data protection to manage your employment background screenings across borders for you.

Our specialised approach to employment screening ensures that we operate fully within local laws and in harmony with local culture and customs. Our team have extensive language capabilities, flexible working patterns and intelligent time-zone workflow to provide a comprehensive and fully compliant global screening service.

Learn more about how EmploySmart™ can help your company stay protected during these strange and uncertain times. Contact CRI®  today.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines, ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations, ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System, ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems.