Background Checks for Remote Workers: Keeping Your Team Safe Without Leaving the Couch
Recently, working from home has become the new normal for many companies. It can offer a lot more flexibility and open doors to the international workforce. But here's the catch: you still need to know who you're bringing onto your team. Just because someone looks good on paper doesn't mean they're a safe bet.
The good news? You don't need to leave your house—or even put on real pants—to make smart hiring choices. Background checks for remote workers make it simple to screen candidates from anywhere.
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Table of Contents
Why Bad Hires Hurt Even More When You're Remote
A bad hire always stings, but in a remote setup, it can hit harder. You're trusting someone to work independently, often with access to company systems, data, or even financial info. There's no manager popping by their desk to check in.
Background checks give you a heads-up on red flags like resume lies, sketchy job histories, or criminal records. It's the digital version of "trust, but verify."
Yes, There Are Still Rules (and You'll Want to Follow Them)
Just because it's easy to run background checks online doesn't mean you can skip the fine print. In the U.S., The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires you to:
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Get written consent from the applicant
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Let them know if you make a decision based on their report
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Give them a chance to respond if something looks off
Not following these regulations can lead to legal consequences and hurt your company's reputation. For example, you could face discrimination claims if you mistakenly reject a candidate because of old or wrong information. States may also have their own laws regarding background checks.
Background Checks Best Practices for Remote Workers
Before you order background checks for your job candidates, learn about some of the best practices:
- Transparency: Let candidates know you'll be doing a background check. It builds trust.
- Flexibility: You may need to adjust your background checks based on the role you are hiring for. For instance, a position that involves financial responsibilities might need a deeper check than a freelance copywriter.
- Mix and match: Combine employment history, criminal records, and references to get the full picture.
- Ongoing Checks: For long-term remote employees, consider implementing periodic background checks. This practice can help ensure continued compliance and safety within your team.
- Consistency: Use the same process for everyone so you don't risk discrimination claims.
Choose the Right Partner; Choose Health Street
At Health Street, we know hiring remote workers comes with its own challenges, but background checks don't have to be one of them. Whether you're screening one new hire or building out a full team, our background check services are easy to use, fast, and flexible.
You can run criminal history checks, verify job experience, and more without ever leaving your living room. Our dashboard is built to be simple, and our packages are customizable, so you get exactly what you need (and nothing you don't).
