Background checks are allowed in many places but it depends. Applicant screening, which focuses on an applicant’s police clearance certificate, is generally prohibited in a few places. On the other hand, there are certainly cases in which the police clearance certificate can be required, depending on the activity.
Extensive applicant screenings are permitted if there is a legitimate interest of the employer that needs to be protected. Truly free background check apps can be used and this applies, for example, in the following cases:
Pharmacist
checking for drug offences
Bank clerk
checking for property crime
Youth coach
screening for sex offences
However, if the employer’s interviews or investigations overshoot the mark, an applicant need not answer truthfully. This applies to past, completed procedures and those that have no relation to the position.
Reasons for applicant screenings
Depending on the effort involved, applicant screening can be costly. However, it is about saving even higher costs, also in the form of time and trouble. Because that is exactly what happens – not so rare to companies that fill their positions incorrectly. According to studies, 40 per cent of specialists and almost 30 per cent of managers are wrongly appointed.
When it comes to managers, the costs are even higher. Understandably, companies would prefer to protect themselves beforehand.
People change and harmless youthful sins should not be smeared on bread for years to come. It is therefore critical when an applicant screening reveals completely outdated or even incorrect information. Decisions based on this make both the applicant and the company look bad. In the vast majority of cases, companies check the CVs. At the latest since various politician scandals about false doctoral titles, such information in the CV has been checked, as well as when someone has indicated management positions.
