Firm Says Employee Background Checks More Important Than Ever

Mountain States Employers Council, Inc. (MSEC) announced on Wednesday that if anyone is catching the recent news, they will see that the importance of organizations conducting background checks on employees has grown.

MSEC, founded in 1939, is a Colorado-based employers association with 10 researchers who are dedicated to conducting pre-employment screening on behalf of employers. The firm expects to conduct over10,000 background checks this year. The firm also projects that nearly 30% of those checked will receive a "hit" with some sort of criminal violation or citation. Criminal history, motor vehicle records, employment verification, and drug testing all come under the firm's capability.

"It is critical for employers to understand who they are hiring. We help employers prevent major problems down the road, as those who don't do checks can discover they're not really sure who they hired. A simple background check can avoid this...there are different levels of background checks, some not as reliable or thorough. And considering that 25% of all applications include at least one major fabrication, screening becomes critical in making everyday hiring decisions," says Lorrie Ray, director of Outsourced Consulting Services at MSEC.

Time was that only a few select positions, such as working for the CIA, required background checks. However, many more employers are beginning to tighten up background checks and verifications in the wake of the illegal immigrant debacle that has so many American citizens infuriated. Concerns about hiring potential terrorists after the events of September 11th, 2001 have also contributed to the sharp rise in employee background checks.

Background checks have become deeper in recent times, with some employers screening the credit histories of employee hopefuls to try to get a better grasp of their character.