Do Different Industries Have Different Background Checks?
Conducting a background check before hiring an employee is a common practice in most industries. If you’ve ever undergone a background check as a new hire or conducted a background check as an employer, you may wonder if the requirements for these screenings vary by industry. Because roles, responsibilities, and safety concerns can vary significantly between industries, the specifics of the background checks may differ as well.
Here are the varying background check requirements for some of the most common industries across the United States:
Healthcare
Medical and healthcare organizations need to protect their patients and their staff, so background checks are critical for employees involved in patient care. Most healthcare organizations conduct drug screenings, criminal background checks, and license or certification checks. Employers may also check the Fraud and Abuse Control Information System (FACIS), which identifies individuals with sanctions in the healthcare industry.
Transportation
Employers in the transportation industry conduct background checks to confirm that their new hire has no history of unsafe driving or past driving-related convictions. They typically check the candidate’s Motor Vehicle Records from the last three years, and they’ll check for past drug or alcohol violations. The company will verify the candidate’s commercial driving license, too.
Manufacturing
Background checks in the manufacturing industry can vary widely from company to company, but drug and alcohol testing is usually one of the most important components. Because employees operate dangerous machinery, a multi-panel drug screening is a key part of the hiring process.
Finance
Common concerns in the finance industry include fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. Financial institutions conduct thorough background checks to ensure that their new hires have no past convictions regarding these crimes. Many employers will also check their candidates’ personal financial histories as bankruptcy, severe debt, or other financial problems could be a problem for the employer depending on the employee’s responsibilities.
The core components of a background check usually involve the factors that could be the most risky or problematic for that specific industry. Different industries do have different background check requirements, but overall, the purpose of a background check is to ensure the safety of the employees, the consumers, and the company.
Need a thorough background check? Contact us to learn more.