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Why Background Check
Employees?

Explore the Necessity and
Benefits of Employment Background Screening



A Matter of Necessity

Backgrounding employees has become a matter of necessity. There is significant statistical and anecdotal evidence to indicate a certain proportion of your applicants will have made false claims on their job applications/resumes or have been involved in prior criminal activity.

Background Check Statistics

  • 39% of the background checks processed by A Matter of Fact had at least one serious discrepancy.
To learn more about how pervasive the issues usually discovered in a Background Check are, view these statistics gathered by A Matter of Fact from years of experience and also from other industry sources. See Background Check Statistics.

Classic Employer Nightmares

  • In Palm Beach, Florida the finalists listed by a headhunter for a top county job were a psychologist who had her license revoked for having a social relationship with a patient and a man forced to resign a job for lying on his resume.
True stories like this one outline scenarios that can be avoided by careful applicant background screening. Don't let these examples happen to your organization. See Classic Employer Nightmares.


Background Check Benefits

Improve the return on investment of your most important asset -- people. Note the following benefits of comprehensive employment background screening.

Increase Applicant Quality

  • Receive fewer applications with serious discrepancies when word gets out that your hiring process includes thorough background screening.
  • Discourage applicants who are trying to hide something.
  • Increase applications from applicants who want to work in a safe environment.
We suggest you use an A Matter of Fact Background Check Badge to help get the “word out” that your organization conducts background checks. A Matter of Fact badges inform prospective employees, investors, and other stakeholders, that you are careful in your hiring process and what the benefits are for them. To learn more, see Thorough Background Check Badges. To view the page they will see when they click on the badge, go to We Conduct Thorough Background Checks.

Avoid Workplace Violence

  • Identify applicants prone to unacceptable workplace behavior.
  • Create and maintain a safe workforce.
For more information, click Avoid Workplace Violence With Background Checks.

Protect against Negligent Hiring Liability

  • Reveal avoidable risks.
  • Document "reasonable care."
For more information, click Protect Against Negligent Hiring Liability.

Reduce Employee Dishonesty Losses

  • Reduce the likelihood of theft and embezzlement due to financial pressure.
  • Reduce drug-related theft by encouraging a drug-free work environment.
  • Reduce other potential dishonest employee problems by avoiding individuals who exaggerate or falsify credentials on resumes and job applications.
For more information, click Reduce Employee Dishonesty Losses.

Reduce Turnover by Making the Right Hire the First Time

  • Screen in employees who stay longer by making the "Right Hire" the first time.
  • Ensure better job and organization fit by increasing the objective information available to hiring managers.
  • Increase the objective information available to hire a competent workforce.
  • Shorten the hiring cycle.
For more information, click Reduce Turnover: Make the Right Hire the First Time.

Improve Profitability

  • Reduce the high cost of turnover by screening in employees who stay longer.
  • Reduce losses from employee theft, employee fraud, drug and alcohol abuse, absenteeism, workplace violence, and litigation.
  • Avoid wasted benefits.
  • Reduce training and employee development costs.
  • Increase productivity through highering employees with better work habits, attitudes, policies, and practices.
  • Enhance professionalism by "screening in" appropriate workplace attitudes.
  • Decrease insurance costs. Some insurance companies will give background check or drug-screening discounts to firms who take such precautions.
For more information, click Improve Profitability: Dividends from Employment Background Checks.

NOTE: If Your Employees:

You are generally expected by the public, the law, and the courts to be extra-vigilant when screening employees.

Are you a Nonprofit Organization?

Nonprofits have special priorities. Learn how comprehensive background screening provides extra benefits to nonprofits. Click Benefits to Nonprofits from Background Checks.

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