Hiring processes often include multiple steps before a company offers candidates a job. Conducting a background check is a common practice that may lengthen the overall hiring process. Many employers require candidates to submit relevant personal information for a background check, and it is important for all parties to understand this process.

How Do You Build a Background Verification Process?
There are a few key steps that should be considered when building a Background Verification Process:

1. Define the criteria for screening candidates. This may include verifying previous employment, along with criminal history and credit checks.
2. Establish a process for requesting and reviewing background checks.
3. Implement procedures for verifying the accuracy of information provided by candidates.
4. Train Hiring Managers and other staff on how to review background checks.
5. Retain copies of background checks for future reference.

What is a Background Check?
A background check is a screening process through which an individual or company can verify someone’s identity. Prospective employers commonly request background checks during the job interview process to ensure potential new employees will not be a liability for their organisation.

In an age with dedicated services that give us access to almost unlimited information, there is no need to take the risk of a bad hire and all the issues that come with a misinformed decision. Most background checks provide information on an individual’s education, employment history, criminal record, and other past activities. While there are several types of specific background checks, employment background checks are some of the most routine. It is common for
employers to request one before offering a position to a candidate.

Checking past records is a way to mitigate any future risks. Background checks are an essential part of the hiring process, as they enable employers to determine if seemingly qualified candidates truly meet the requirements.

Purpose of Employment Verification:
Employers conduct background checks to ensure they are hiring the right candidate for their organisation. Candidates may make false claims in the job application; thus, background checks help the employer verify that what the candidate has said is correct and that the candidate is trustworthy.

While the perfect candidate might not exist, a thorough background check will help get a business as close as possible to one. Hence it is a laborious process involving various components and stages.

The most basic pre-employment screening includes reference checks, past employment checks, a credit check, and criminal history checks. Each of them has its own set of compliance procedures that must be adhered to. Familiarising yourself with the various governing laws surrounding human rights and privacy protection is a crucial step in ensuring a proper screening can take place. All employers must be sure to have a screening policy that has been vetted and approved by a legal body.

Categories background verification check is implemented:
In the background check process, there are different types of background verifications conducted. Through a background report, employers look to verify the following details about an applicant:

• Employment Verification: An employer may check which companies someone has worked with and verify the work details performed.
• Identity verification: Confirm the applicant has provided an accurate name and has the legal right to work in the country.
• Educational Certificate: In this check, the employer verifies the genuineness of the degrees mentioned on the prospective employee’s application.
• Credit history: This check verifies if the applicant is financially responsible. This test is especially important if the candidate will have access to the company’s funds to perform their work duties.
• Criminal record: An employer often wants to verify if there is a criminal record or outstanding warrants against the prospective employee.

• Social Media Use: Employers may check an applicant’s social media accounts to understand how they are in their personal lives and if they will be suitable for the organisation’s work culture.
• Drug Test: This check helps the employer verify if an applicant uses drugs and might be of any harm to other employees of the company.
• Global Database/ DIN Verification: This helps to confirm whether the applicant is associated with any other public or proprietary firm, or is a member of a board committee of any other company irrespective to any industry.
• PCC: Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is issued to Indian Passport-holders in case they have applied for Residential Status, Employment, or Long-term visa or for immigration.

How Background Verification Help Businesses and Why Do Companies Conduct Background Checks?
Globalisation has massively impacted today’s workforce. Businesses are expanding internationally faster than ever and forming cross-border allegiances to maximise their growth.

This rapid movement towards borderless trade also means that companies can connect with an almost infinite pool of international talent. Background checks can help organisations evaluate and hire their ideal candidates from a rapidly expanding and evolving workforce.

Pre-employment checks can help employers determine whether the information provided by a candidate is true, as surveys have found that around 80% of job-seekers lie, or at least consider stretching the truth, during the job application process.

Forged Documents/ Discrepancy/ BGV Failure:
The increasing incidences of candidates producing fake documents signals the need for more thorough scrutiny. Therefore, it is in the best interests of any organisation to verify the credentials of potential candidates.

For example, a 2022 study in India found that 10% of hospitality applicants lied during their application process. There is no surprise that Background Verification Checks are extremely important for all concerned.

Fraudulent Activities:
Even the most basic exaggerations on an applicant’s CV could legally be considered fraud and ultimately cost them their new job (and, depending on how misleading the claim was, could land the applicant in jail). Indeed, in 2014 the Fraud Prevention Services in the UK discovered that approximately 63% of all confirmed fraud through their service was employment application fraud – in particular, qualifications, employment history, and concealment of criminal history.

Ramifications
With stagnating growth in the employment marketplace, prospective employees wanting to forge a career in the United Kingdom are finding it increasingly difficult to break into the job market. This can cause applicants to be extremely creative in the application and interview process. This type of fraud can have far-reaching ramifications for both the company and the applicant.

Why does the Hospitality industry need background checks?

• Background Checks in the Hospitality Industry Protect Sensitive Information.

In the hospitality industry, the protection of customers’ sensitive information is of utmost priority. Hospitality workers often have close contact with customers as well as access to sensitive information and belongings. It’s crucial to have a high level of trust with employees in order to protect customers’ sensitive information and belongings, and to prioritise their security. An incident involving a customer’s sensitive information being stolen or safety threatened can have
devastating effects on both them and an organization.

Performing thorough background checks on potential new employees is one of the best ways a hospitality employer can hire trustworthy new staff.

In the hospitality industry, there is a very high interaction rate between staff and customers.
Having background checks during the hiring process helps to ensure that staff members are clear of any criminal or substance abuse history. This will help employers feel at ease that customers will not be exposed to harmful staff.

• Hospitality Background Checks Help Maintain Better Customer Service Quality

Implementing Zero-Tolerance policies against all sexual abuse and harassment should be mandatory throughout hospitality sector.

In addition, background checks also help maintain customer satisfaction by ensuring candidates have the experience and skills needed to provide a high-quality customer service experience. Previous employment verification checks are important, especially in the hospitality industry. Employees are on the front lines dealing with customers face-to-face, and they have a significant role in shaping a company’s customer experience.

• Protect Use of Company Equipment

In the hospitality industry, employees often have access to, and use of, expensive equipment. Negligent employee behaviour with expensive company equipment can lead to costly damages that eat into your company’s profit. Additionally, in cases involving accidents with company vehicles or equipment, organisations could be held reliable. Thus, it is crucial to hire people that can be trusted with company equipment and vehicles.

• Sustaining a Better Company Reputation

A company is only as good as its reputation. Aside from customer service, the employees hired play a large role in overall company character. Especially given the high amount of staff-customer interaction, it is important to hire people who have good character and who align with company values.

Hiring employees with negative character attributes, rude behaviour, substance abuse, violent outbursts, or racist or discriminatory tendencies is something to be avoided to protect customers as well as the company’s image and brand.

“Significance of the Background Verification Process of Vira International”.
Vira International’s legacy as a leading recruiter in the hospitality industry spans more than 50 years. Our Background Verification team plays a pivotal role in recruiting genuine applicants for our esteemed clients. The verification is designed to help meet our clients’ hiring needs by helping them find the most well-suited employee for their businesses.

The hospitality sector has a higher turnover rate than other industries, with approximately 30% of all employees leaving per year (double the rate of the British national average) and six percent leaving per month.

This turnover rate can make it difficult for employers to verify past employment and experiences for potential employees, as new talent is needed ASAP. However, hiring the right employees goes beyond hiring reputable, skilled, and trustworthy employees. It is also essential to hire employees who are the right match for the job to reduce the turnover rates. Thus, while background checks might slow down the initial hiring process, they provide businesses with long-term gains.