The office of the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) received nearly 5,008 complaints in the last four years - an exceptional increase in the number of registered cases.

 

According to a recent survey conducted by The International Labor Organization (ILO), Gallup, and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) one in every five workers (around 23%) has experienced workplace violence and harassment, whether physical, verbal, or sexual. The report provides a regional analysis instead of a national one, so as not to divide countries but to provide insight into the magnitude of the effort necessary to stop workplace harassment and violence. The most alarming fact, according to the report, is that workers suffer harassment and violence not just once, but several times during their working life, with psychological violence and harassment being the most common.

A safe workplace goes beyond injury prevention; employees want their well-being to be a priority. Employees perform best once they feel safe and secure in an organization and their sentiments, ideologies, and prejudices are heard and respected.  That means HR and leadership must ensure employees are physically and emotionally safe from threats, become trauma-informed, and implement a continuous monitoring program that reduces the risk of employee criminal activity. One of the surest ways to ensure such safety in the workplace environment is through background checks.

Index What is an Employee Background Check? Preventing Workplace Violence Continuous Monitoring through Ongoing Screening Following the Clues Conclusion  FAQs

What is an Employee Background Check?

An employee background check is the process of verifying a potential hire’s work history, education, professional qualifications, and any criminal records they might have. It’s particularly beneficial to run before finalizing an employment offer or signing a contract, as it ensures that the candidate meets the organization's standards and requirements.  

These background checks not only help you recruit the best candidate for your organization but continuous monitoring ensures that your employees feel safe and secure knowing the fact that everyone around them has gone through this rigorous process.

Here are three ways background checks create a safe workplace:

 

Preventing Workplace Violence

It's a common tale for capable, experienced employees to leave their jobs just because of workplace bullying, harassment or violence. One cannot work in a place where they don't feel safe. The most common and devastating form of workplace violence is psychological.  According to Havaei et al., nurses who encountered violence had a 2–4 times higher probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and burnout as compared to nurses who had never experienced workplace violence. Not only does workplace violence lead to losing potential employees for an organization or a healthcare centre in this regard, but it also hampers the overall percentage of a nation’s workforce.

Background verification allows employers to uncover the vulnerabilities of their employees. This may include past criminal record checks, a history of domestic violence, or any other behaviour that may be a potential red flag for the organization. Employers can significantly lessen the occurrence of violent incidents by screening potential candidates and creating a safe atmosphere for their employees.

Continuous Monitoring through Ongoing Screening

An organization is nothing but its efficient team, which helps it stand out amongst the rest, build a rapport with its customers and deliver exceptional work ethos aligned with its goals. However, employees must feel safe when they walk into their workplace. This is true not only for the new hires who are screened thoroughly to ensure their credibility but for the existing employees too.
Long-term employees may not need a re-screen of their employment or education records. They may, however, need updated criminal records checks, drug screening, and driving records. Conducting routine, regular background checks after an employee is hired is a best practice that can help you remain compliant and aware of any new issues that may develop during the employee’s tenure with your company. Your background-checking practices shouldn’t stop at the point of a job offer.  In a SHRM article, Nick Fishman, president of Fishman Group Consultants, says: “Continuous monitoring is a critical evolution in the background screening industry. It will keep companies safer from fraud, theft, and reputational damage.”
Thus, any organization, intending to eliminate workplace violence should adopt a well-organized, ongoing post-hire screening process. This can bring a feeling of confidence and safety from knowing that you’re looking out for your employees—and the customers they serve.

 

Following the Clues

Some events or behaviours could offer clues that it's time to rescreen an employee or have Human Resources update the company's Background Check Policy. Workplace accidents, falling job performance, or other reported conduct may reveal that the employee could be going through a personal challenge, be involved with drug or alcohol abuse, or have other risky actions.

A clue that it may be time to update the HR background check policy is when promoting employees to positions that they were never initially screened for. Certain positions within a company may require access to sensitive information, such as financial data or customer records. When conducting in-house promotions, it is important to conduct a background check before entrusting the candidates with a more responsible position.

 

Conclusion

The statistics and data against workplace violence are enough to open our eyes to this grave scenario. Workplace violence doesn’t only cost an organization its employees, it leaves a dent in the organization’s reputation, questioning its ethos and working environment.

It's important to ensure that the organization covers all its bases to create a safe workplace for its employees who are the lifeblood of the system. Check Xperts is Pakistan’s most trusted background screening company which excels in new-hire employment checks as well as ongoing post-hire background checks to ensure that every person who is part of your workplace is the perfect fit and brings quality to the table. With Check Xperts as your partner, you can guarantee a safe working environment which nurtures growth not only of an employee individually but collectively of an organization too.

FAQs

1. How can I ensure workplace safety?
   To ensure workplace safety, establish clear safety protocols and provide regular training to all employees. Conduct routine background screenings to identify potential hazards address them promptly, and encourage open communication. Check Xperts is Pakistan’s most trusted background screening company which will help you do so.
   
   
2. Can I run a background check for blue-collar staff as well?
   Make sure to follow legal requirements and ethical guidelines. Also, obtain proper consent from candidates, and use checks relevant to the job role.
   
   
3. What are the legal requirements for running a background check on my employees?
   The legal requirements for running a background check on your employees depend on various aspects such as your location and the type of check being conducted.
   Some general guidelines include:
   

• Consent: Written consent from the candidate is mandatory before conducting a background check.
• Compliance with Laws: Make sure your company’s background policy aligns with data protection laws and regulations throughout the background check process.
• Document and report: Maintain thorough documentation of the background check process and compile a comprehensive report for review.