This morning I was talking to my husband about the last time we flew. As we sat in the airport we witnessed the staff training a bomb-sniffing dog. We started to talk about the airport employees and what they probably go through to get hired. Tests, training and definitely background screening.
It wasn’t until I started my job here a few months later that I stopped to think about the companies providing services such as background screening. I was surprised find that not every company provides businesses with quality background checks.
In Tuesday’s post, How Well do you Know your CRA, I covered a terrifying story about a CRA that falsified results to increase production. If you haven’t read it yet you may want to before you continue. This brings me to today’s post on company standards and quality assurance.
The Importance of Quality Assurance
At Active Screening we pride ourselves on our Active Care motto, which is made up of three parts. The first of the three is Uncompromising Quality Assurance, so when the story about USIS hit the news it spread fast through our office.
We couldn’t believe that something like this happened in a well-known and respected CRA. Blane Chaplow, the Director of Sales and compliance expert at Active Screening, brought up many points surrounding quality assurance:
“Background check companies get so big, to the point where quality issues on a massive scale like this can go unchecked for long periods of time.”
He is referring to in-house procedures and the importance of a controlled environment. USIS as a company did not condone falsifying results. It was one employee who cut corners and ruined the companies reputation. In addition to that employee, 19 other people including court runners and third party vendors are being charged. If a company gets so large it may overlook problems with the staff.
This is the perfect example of how important it is for a company to stay on top of quality control. It is necessary for all CRA’s to have controlled processes in place in order to provide the best service possible. If a background check is inaccurate it is useless.
How to Choose a CRA?
The US Government has used USIS for years to vet employees who have access to classified material. The OPM never questioned USIS’s process or vendors and it has them now scrambling to recheck over $100,000 worth of background checks.
Just like interviewing candidates for a job, all employers should interview its prospective vendors. A CRA should hold itself responsible for these things; however, if they don’t, by asking questions you will know before you make a huge hiring mistake.
When choosing a CRA it is important to know how the in-house operates:
- How are the employees chosen?
- How is the research conducted?
- What is the verification process?
- Are the results re-verified?
- Is anything outsourced? If so what and where?
- Are the court runners vetted?
If a CRA is unable to answer these questions they are probably not the one you want to choose.
Situations like this one with USIS, point out just how important controlled processes are – especially with research practices, outsourced work and verifications.
Interview, do your homework and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Please remember a quality CRA should be able to answer all the above questions.
Keep your workplace safe by getting to know your CRA. Find out more about Active Screening’s Active Care and screening solutions by visiting our website. Or contact us directly, we are happy to answer all of your questions!