Common Mistakes To Avoid When Conducting Background Checks For Contractors

Background Screening | January 26, 2022

If your organization utilizes an extended workforce, it’s important to conduct background checks for contractors and vendors. Working with the right background screening provider can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.

PlusOne Solutions utilizes a unique combination of human expertise and innovative technology to provide our customers with thorough and comprehensive contractor background screening services. Conducting background checks for contractors helps to protect your customers and your organization from potential risks. In this blog, we will discuss a few of the common pitfalls that we see occurring when organizations conduct background checks. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Conducting Background Checks For Contractors

Not Having A Good System In Place

Your organization should have a standard in place that outlines your background check policy. This allows for clear communication to the contractors and vendors that you work with and leaves no room for confusion or inconsistency between each service worker or their servicing company. 

It may be tempting to try and conduct your background checks for contractors in-house, but this is also not advisable. Not only is it time-consuming to do a complete and thorough background check, but there are a number of resources that you will need access to, and complex laws that apply to the background check process. Having a professional screening partner, with experience in the industry and connections to vendors will save you time and money.

Rejecting Each Contractor With Potentially Adverse Information In Their Results

Determining who should be in your organization’s service network should be based on risk and not every criminal record may be relevant in that decision. Allowing the individual that the screening has been conducted on adequate time to review and dispute information that appears on their report is a regulated and important part of the process. Information on their eligibility should be based on complete and accurate information and this step ensures that occurs.

Relying On Self-Certification

Although we would like to assume that all of the contractors and vendors that your organization works with are honest and forthright people, that is not always the case. Your organization needs to include identity searches and criminal record checks, instead of solely relying on a self-certification from the contractor that they are who they claim or they have no criminal history.

Relying On Software And Automation Alone

At PlusOne Solutions, we promote a combination of technology and manual review. This is because relying entirely on one or the other is typically insufficient for the needs of our customers. Manual background checks are often too slow to meet the needs of the fast-paced service industry, but leaving your background results solely up to an automated system leaves room for error and opens your organization up to increased risk. 

PlusOne Solutions Is Here To Help You Conduct Background Checks For Contractors 

We have been managing compliance for large networks for over 15 years. Our advanced technology and high-touch, customer-focused approach to service provides you and your customers with the confidence that their safety is your number one priority. 

Our background checks for contractors are not one-size-fits-all and can be customized to meet the needs of your organization. To learn more about our contractor screening services, fill out our online contact form today.

Contents are provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Users are reminded to seek legal counsel with respect to their obligations and use of PlusOne Solutions services.

About PlusOne Solutions

PlusOne Solutions has been an industry leader in the risk management field by specializing in compliance programs that meet the complex challenges of geographically dispersed contractors, vendors, and employee networks. PlusOne Solutions protects companies from possible financial, legal, and reputational risks associated with contractor and vendor relationships while creating safer work environments. To learn more, visit https://www.PlusOneSolutions.net.