With a rise in the rate of companies carrying out employee screening, leading global background check provider, Sterling, has urged businesses to recognise the numerous benefits of outsourcing these complex checks.

According to research from the company’s recent White Paper, ‘Practical Considerations to Outsourcing a Background Screening Programme’, levels of screening have steadily risen, with eight out of 10 companies now conducting pre-employment checks – compared to six out of 10 in 2016.

However, the report also illustrates the utility of outsourcing these checks to an expert provider as in-house screening faces increasing challenges. These include: rising regulatory complexity (especially internationally), social media check compliance and difficulty in creating consistency across the business.

Steve Smith, Managing Director EMEA of Sterling, explained:

“It’s extremely encouraging to see the level of background screening rising, as it’s a clear indicator that businesses are taking this aspect of hiring seriously. However, with an increasing number of challenges to conducting fully compliant checks – business should seriously consider the prospect of partnering with an expert.”

“While many can be hesitant to embrace outsourcing – often misconstruing it with offshoring – this practice can make the lives of employers far easier, giving you access to a team of experts, streamlining the screening process, and eliminating the risk of a bad hire.”

“If an organisation does decide to explore outsourcing programme, they must ensure they work with a qualified and reputable partner. With stakes higher than ever, getting this wrong could have serious negative ramifications. I would advise companies to seek a supplier that takes a consultative approach and genuinely wants to add value to their organisation.”