The trend toward remote work has risen dramatically in recent years, predominantly due to the need for alternative working styles during the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is highlighted by recent figures, which show that the percentage of work performed at home rose from 4.7% in January 2019 to 61% in May 2020.
This unprecedented time saw organizations quickly adapt to new norms, forcing them to shift their employees from traditional office environments to home-based settings. Following the pandemic, these changes to how work have remained in place as many companies have embraced remote or hybrid working styles within their organizations. With interviews conducted virtually, meetings undertaken via video conferencing, and work delivered remotely, many employees no longer need to enter the office.
While this way of working has its benefits, it also has certain downsides, particularly regarding employee security and verification. As a result, background screening checks are becoming an increasingly important part of the recruitment process.
This process can help employers gain the assurance they need that the person behind the screen is not only qualified, but is also trustworthy, reliable, and suitable for the role. In this article, we will explore various strategies that organizations can employ to assist them in effective background screening of remote candidates, leading to a safer and more secure hiring process.
Leverage Technology
In our digital world, technology is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for companies to conduct background checks on remote workers. Employers can use various digital platforms and online tools to help them streamline the screening process, allowing them to quickly and accurately verify a candidate’s background in a manner that is compliant with local laws and regulations.
This is especially beneficial for organizations looking to build global remote teams, as background checks can be carried out across multiple regions efficiently and legally compliantly. For instance, online services like Triton Canada can assist organizations by conducting fast, accurate, and secure criminal record checks or social media checks on prospective employees within a few minutes.
This technology allows businesses to speed up their hiring processes and ensure that their remote employees are thoroughly vetted for security and trustworthiness. This enables them to make more informed hiring decisions that benefit their organization.
Conduct Virtual Interviews
Virtual interviews have become commonplace in many remote hiring practices. This interview format offers both parties a convenient way to connect and interact with one another without the need to arrange a physical location. It also provides a platform for interviewing candidates from anywhere in the world, saving companies considerable time and expense that would otherwise be incurred by flying them over to a physical office space.
While it may not be an in-person interviewing medium, employers can still use virtual interviews to gather valuable clues about a potential employee. For instance, they can gauge a candidate’s body language and look out for non-verbal cues such as their posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures, helping them assess their communication skills and demeanor. In this way, virtual interviews still enable interviewers to build a connection with a candidate, giving them greater reassurance about their credibility and suitability for a role and their organization at large.
Biometric Verification
With the increasing incidence of identity theft, employers today must also be vigilant in ensuring candidates are who they claim to be. This step can be achieved through identity verification methods that utilize biometric data, such as fingerprint scanning or facial recognition, to confirm a prospective employee’s identity. These technologies can provide an added layer of security, helping prevent fraudulent applications and ultimately safeguarding the organization from potential risks associated with identity misrepresentation.
By working with third-party digital identity verification providers authorized to collect and verify biometric data, employers can significantly reduce the risk of identity fraud and ensure higher security in their hiring processes.
By implementing these strategies, organizations can confidently recruit remote staff, enabling them to build reliable and trustworthy remote teams that contribute to their long-term growth and success.
