Background checks are different from reference checks, Brouwer explained.
“Reference checks are conducted based on personal or professional references provided by the prospective hire. While they can be helpful, they are handpicked and generally likely to be favorable,” Brouwer said. “When advising employers on hiring processes, I definitely recommend background checks first and foremost because they provide information that is less likely to be obtained from a reference.”
A national movement about five years ago sought to ‘ban the box’, referring to the box on a job application asking if the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony. In Michigan, then Gov. Rick Snyder signed a 2018 law that prohibited the question from being asked on state applications for employment and encouraged private employers to do the same. That same year, though, the Michigan legislature enacted a law prohibiting all local
governmental entities from adopting ‘ban the box’ ordinances. As Michigan law currently stands, generally, an employer may inquire into pending felony charges and may ask a job applicant if he or she has been convicted of a crime.
The old adage says hire slow and fire fast, but in an era where employees are hired on the spot and sometimes paid the next day, does it still hold true? When talent is tight and decisions often need to be made quickly so as not to lose out on good candidate, Brouwer offers the following tips.
Coordinate hiring so that it’s centralized into a department, such as the HR department if an employer is large enough to have one. When multiple managers are given carte blanche authority to hire, quality can be compromised; conversely, good candidates for a position in another department may be overlooked.
Follow a prospective hire checklist to ensure that all appropriate steps are made in seeking the best hire.
Have the candidate be interviewed by more than one person; a second or third person may notice red flags that could be missed by a sole interviewer.
Conduct background checks on all employees, regardless of position. A uniform policy will avoid claims of discrimination. Follow the same protocol for drug testing if that’s part of the hiring process.
Ensure staff is properly trained in best practices and the laws regarding hiring.
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