Background checks are an essential tool in today's society to protect public safety and prevent fraud. Whether it be for employment, housing, or even volunteering, the information gathered from a background check can be crucial in determining if someone is trustworthy and capable of performing the responsibilities they are given. In this article, we will explore why background checks are so important, how they work, and how they can help prevent fraud and protect public safety in various industries.
Why are Background Checks Important in Today’s Society?
Background checks help to reveal crucial information about individuals that may not be apparent upon meeting them. As society becomes increasingly complex and diverse, it’s essential to establish trust between individuals and organizations. Background checks are one way organizations can build trust, feeling secure in the knowledge that individuals have undergone thorough vetting before being given access to valuable resources, sensitive information, or jobs.
Organizations such as schools and employers don’t want to take unnecessary risks if the people they are bringing into their environments pose a significant threat. A background check provides employers and organizations with the clarity they need about the candidate's history, helping develop an accurate understanding of their potential risks and liabilities. It is also important for employers to conduct background checks into potential employees due to the increasing threat of fraud that businesses face. Employee theft and other forms of embezzlement can cost a business significantly, so conducting a background check can help ensure that they are hiring trustworthy individuals.
In addition, performing background checks can also help to protect against litigation that could arise if a company fails to adequately screen its employees. Therefore, conducting comprehensive background checks can help employers safeguard against the risk of hiring someone with a dubious past. It is more cost-effective to pay the minimal fee charged for a background check, then risk paying legal fees and damages in a lawsuit.
How Do Background Checks Prevent Fraud?
Background checks help prevent fraud by providing organizations with essential background information on their candidates' histories. Background checks often include criminal record history, credit history, and employment history. If the candidate has lied on their application, background checks reveal if someone has a history of deception that may be indicative of fraud or other illegal activity. This information, when compared to their application, can help reveal that they have failed to disclose previous offenses or gained employment under false pretenses.
Background checks on credit histories can also indicate past payment problems, reflecting irresponsibility or poor financial management. Past credit issues may pose a risk to industries, such as the banking and financial sector, where candidates' credit histories are essential to their work.
In healthcare, for example, background checks play a vital role in protecting patients and the integrity of the healthcare system. Before joining a healthcare workforce, candidates go through a variety of background checks to ensure they have no history of malpractice, abuse, or other unethical behaviors. The sexual abuse cases involving athletes and coaches in the gymnastics community were part of the reason why USA Gymnastics, created a safe sport initiative in 2017 to enhance the safety of competitors and their organization.
Background checks can help ensure that professional standards are upheld in essential industries, where morality, ethics, and trust are essential components of the services.
How Do Background Checks Protect Public Safety?
Conducting background checks are essential in protecting public safety, especially in jobs where individuals interact with the general public. It is crucial to conduct background checks in jobs that require a high degree of trust, such as teachers, caregivers, and law enforcement officers. Background checks help to ensure that the right individuals are given responsibilities that include serving and protecting communities.
In addition, background checks can reveal restraining orders, which can help businesses protect their employees. Crime statistics show that domestic violence victims need protection, as victims of domestic violence often deal with harassment and stalking from their abusers, putting their safety at risk. Therefore, known violent offenders would not be able to work around individuals with restraining orders, guaranteeing the safety of employees in that company.
Background checks are becoming more critical as online transactions make up more and more of our society. With the rise of internet commerce, people are making transactions more often than ever before. Companies that offer e-commerce services rely on background checks to protect their clients against cybercrime, hackers, and phishing scams. These background checks can reveal whether someone has been involved with hacking, cybercrime, or other cyber-related offenses.
Conclusion
In today’s society, background checks are essential for protecting public safety and preventing fraud. A background check provides a comprehensive perspective on candidates' pasts, unearthing critical information that can help predict risky behavior. These checks are often mandatory in many areas, such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement. Still, they are also becoming more common in other sectors, such as commerce, real estate, and volunteer organizations. By helping to prevent fraud and protect public safety, the use of background checks contribute considerably to the betterment of today's society.
