Even though hiring new staff without checking out the individual’s background puts an organization at risk for fraud, theft or other crimes, many businesses only rely on Google searches to indicate red flags. Background checks, according to First Advantage Canada, serve as a safeguard for companies and their staff, raising awareness about an applicant’s past. Criminal checks will turn up past convictions, not pending cases, but a thorough background screening will catch information that is subject to open records laws, such as education, employment, criminal background, driving history, credit scores, international watches and sanctions, and bankruptcy, said Rhonda Fairweather, general manager at First Advantage Canada.
