Mike McCarty, Chief Executive Officer, Safe Hiring Solutions, recently weighed in on the importance of background checks as a tool used to play a role in broader strategies for hiring and retention. Having clear policies ensures that everyone understands what the employer is doing and why. It also reduces the possibility that decisions will be made for subjective reasons and helps defend actions when challenged in the legal arena. McCarty suggests companies beginning the process by evaluating why they want to screen prospective employees. Next, define when and how they will be performed and who will pay for them. And finally, employers should consider how the program will be monitored.